Himanta Sarma Slams Mamata Banerjee Over 'Burn' Remark, Asks "How Dare You Threaten Assam?"
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma criticized West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday after she mentioned Assam while drawing a parallel between the protests in Kolkata and the unrest in Bangladesh.
In response to Mamata Banerjee's statement that "if Bengal burns, then Assam and Delhi too shall burn," Sarma accused the Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief of trying to ignite unrest across India with her "politics of failure."
"Didi (Mamata Banerjee), how dare you threaten Assam? Don't show us your bloodshot eyes. Don't try to set India on fire with your politics of failure. It does not suit you to speak divisive language," Sarma tweeted.
Assam BJP leader Piyush Hazarika also criticized Mamata Banerjee, saying, "She can't bully or threaten us. I strongly condemn her. She can't control law and order in her state and is threatening us. It will not happen in Assam, I assure you."
Union Minister and Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar also commented, suggesting that her remarks seemed "anti-national" and unbecoming of someone in a constitutional role.
'IF BENGAL BURNS, THEN ASSAM AND DELHI...'
Speaking at the foundation day event of the Trinamool Congress's student wing, Mamata Banerjee criticized the BJP for the violence during the bandh (strike) and the 'Nabanna Abhijan' protest march to the state secretariat.
The TMC government has faced severe backlash and widespread protests over its handling of the rape and murder case involving a trainee doctor at RG Kar Hospital.
"Some people think this (agitation) is similar to the protests in Bangladesh. I love Bangladesh; they speak like us (Bengal). Our culture is also the same. However, Bangladesh is a different country," Banerjee stated, referring to the student protests in Bangladesh over a controversial quota system that led to the downfall of the Sheikh Hasina government.
"PM Modi, you are trying to create unrest in Bengal through your people. But remember, if you burn Bengal, Assam, the North-East, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Delhi will also burn," she added.
Also Read:Kolkota Protest
The BJP's 12-hour bandh on Wednesday led to clashes between BJP workers, TMC supporters, and police in various parts of Bengal. BJP leader Priyangu Pandey claimed TMC supporters hurled bombs and fired at his car in Bhatpara.