Amidst a steady morning drizzle at Red Road, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee delivered a scathing critique of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the annual Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations. Standing alongside Trinamool Congress (TMC) National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee, the Chief Minister accused the central government of hypocrisy and divisive politics.

A Sharp Rebuttal to Foreign Policy

Banerjee took aim at the Prime Minister’s international engagements, contrasting his diplomacy abroad with his domestic rhetoric. Addressing the gathered crowd, she pointed out the irony in the Prime Minister’s interactions with Middle Eastern leaders.

“You go to Dubai and Saudi Arabia to forge friendships and embrace their leaders,” Banerjee stated. “We respect all nations, but why do you forget those sentiments the moment you return to India? Here, you label people as ‘infiltrators’ and attempt to strike their names from the citizen registers. If you look at the reality of who is truly undermining our nation’s unity, I would say you are the biggest infiltrator of all.”

Defiance Against NRC and CAA

The Chief Minister’s speech was heavily centered on the controversial issues of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). She assured the public that her administration would stand as a bulwark against any attempts to disenfranchise residents of Bengal.

Supporting her stance, Abhishek Banerjee highlighted the ongoing legal battles the party has waged from the Calcutta High Court to Delhi to protect citizens’ rights. He characterized the morning rain as a divine blessing, suggesting it symbolized the strength needed to overcome “conspiracies of division.”

A Message of Universal Unity

The TMC leadership emphasized that the threat facing the country transcends religious boundaries. Abhishek Banerjee remarked that while some claim specific religions are in danger, the reality is that “all of Hindustan is in danger” due to polarizing politics.

“This country belongs to you as much as it belongs to me,” Abhishek declared. “Those who think they can evict people or turn brother against brother are mistaken. We will not bow down, even under the greatest pressure.”

The rally concluded with a firm promise from the Chief Minister to maintain Bengal’s tradition of communal harmony, regardless of the political pressure from the center.