‘The biggest infiltrator is the Prime Minister’: Mamata at Eid meeting

Kolkata: Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee Pick Kolkata’s biggest Eid rally on Red Road to call Prime Minister Narendra Modi “The biggest infiltrator… shook hands in Saudi Arabia” but harped on the “Hindu-Muslim narrative (when he was in India)”.“We will not give up our rights to Modi. He went to Saudi Arabia and shook hands there. I respect all countries but I am proud of my own country. When you shake hands abroad, you seem to forget everything but when you come back to India, the Hindu and Muslim narrative starts again. Then you call for removal of names, labeling of infiltrators. I would say you are the bigger infiltrator,” she said in her six-minute speech on Saturday.

Linking her remarks to the ongoing controversy over deletion of electoral lists under the SIR process, Banerjee said she had filed cases in the Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court. “I still want people’s rights to be protected. I will support the people of Bengal as a family, across religion, caste and creed.”She considered Bengal a bastion of social harmony, adding: “Bangla believes in unity. Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians – everyone lives here. We will not allow anyone to destroy this social fabric.”The West Bengal chief minister also accused the BJP of exerting control over the state administration and claimed there was an “undeclared presidential rule” ahead of the state’s assembly elections on April 23 and 29. “You have captured our government… They have removed everyone and are planning to put BJP officials in these posts. This is a party of thieves, robbers, thugs and traitors,” she said, adding: “Jo darte hain, woh marte hain.” Jo ladte hain, woh kamyab hote hain (The one who fears, dies. The one who fights, succeeds). ” She did not name him but referred to the “betrayal” of Bharatpur MLA Humayun Kabir, accusing him of trying to split votes with the support of the BJP. Quoting a popular line from the movie Coolie, she said the outcome ultimately depends on the Almighty.Trinamool general secretary and Diamond Harbor MP Abhishek Banerjee echoed the message of unity, urging the community to celebrate each other’s festivals.