KOLKATA: Bengal is not Bangladesh, Mamata Banerjee declared on Wednesday amid the worst spell of public unrest in her three stints as CM. She asked PM Narendra Modi “not to play with fire”, suggesting that much of what had happened since the Aug 9 rape-murder of a junior doctor at RG Kar hospital was the result of BJP‘s alleged attempts to “overthrow” her.
“If you play with fire, Modi babu, the fire will not only engulf Bengal but also spread to Delhi,” Mamata said at a rally on Kolkata’s Mayo Road to commemorate Trinamool Chhatra Parishad’s foundation day.
She dedicated the rally to the “RG Kar rape-murder victim” and vowed to have the speaker convene a special assembly session in 10 days to bring an “anti-rape law” for speedy trial and capital punishment to the perpetrators of such crimes.
To BJP, Mamata issued a warning that “if I lose my patience, you can’t imagine what I can do”.
“You have insulted me a lot. You have disrespected me greatly…I realised that I have never taken revenge,” the CM said, urging Trinamool Congress workers to be more alert than ever to “fake news” and the need to counter it.
“We said we wanted change, not revenge (TMC’s poll slogan in 2011 was ‘Badla noye, bodol chai’). Today, I say, no…do what you need to do wisely,” Mamata said. “I do not want unrest. But if someone is constantly defaming, spreading false information, and conspiring against you, even if you don’t bite, you can certainly hiss.”
She accused BJP of “waiting like vultures, looking for a body to take to the streets”.
“They might even kill their own people. I say it’s not that easy. Everyone is being watched. Every individual is being monitored.”
Mamata told protesting junior doctors that she supported their cause, but it was time for them to return to work.
“If you play with fire, Modi babu, the fire will not only engulf Bengal but also spread to Delhi,” Mamata said at a rally on Kolkata’s Mayo Road to commemorate Trinamool Chhatra Parishad’s foundation day.
She dedicated the rally to the “RG Kar rape-murder victim” and vowed to have the speaker convene a special assembly session in 10 days to bring an “anti-rape law” for speedy trial and capital punishment to the perpetrators of such crimes.
To BJP, Mamata issued a warning that “if I lose my patience, you can’t imagine what I can do”.
“You have insulted me a lot. You have disrespected me greatly…I realised that I have never taken revenge,” the CM said, urging Trinamool Congress workers to be more alert than ever to “fake news” and the need to counter it.
“We said we wanted change, not revenge (TMC’s poll slogan in 2011 was ‘Badla noye, bodol chai’). Today, I say, no…do what you need to do wisely,” Mamata said. “I do not want unrest. But if someone is constantly defaming, spreading false information, and conspiring against you, even if you don’t bite, you can certainly hiss.”
She accused BJP of “waiting like vultures, looking for a body to take to the streets”.
“They might even kill their own people. I say it’s not that easy. Everyone is being watched. Every individual is being monitored.”
Mamata told protesting junior doctors that she supported their cause, but it was time for them to return to work.