West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday accused the CPI(M) and Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress (TMC) of forging an alliance to bring back “anarchy” in the state.
Addressing a “Save Democracy” public meeting in Garbeta in Paschim Medinipur district on Saturday, Adhikari alleged that growing closeness between CPI(M) general secretary M.A. Baby and former chief minister Mamata Banerjee had brought the two parties together. He described them as “brothers-in-arms” and said, “The two parties have come together to bring back the days of anarchy.”
He claimed that the CPI(M) was trying to regain its political foothold by exploiting internal divisions within the Mamata-led TMC after the assembly elections.
Adhikari also targeted CPI(M) state secretary Mohammad Salim over his recent remarks in Garbeta. Referring to Salim’s comments about people resisting an alleged BJP attack on the Left party, the chief minister said, “You had the temerity to state in Garbeta some days back that people resisted when the BJP came to attack the CPI(M).”
He warned that his government would reopen cases linked to the 2007 Nandigram violence and the 2001 Choto Angaria massacre. Mamata asserted that no one will be spared. She also cited those who allegedly traveled from the CPI(M)’s Garbeta office to mount an armed attack during the anti-land acquisition agitation in Nandigram, and those accused in the Choto Angaria massacre in which TMC supporters were killed.
Garbeta, located in the Jangalmahal region, had seen political violence and Maoist activity during the Left Front’s rule.
Highlighting the BJP government’s performance in its first six months in office, Adhikari pointed to the party’s victories by substantial margins in the Rejinagar and Nandigram by-elections and the Falta re-poll. He predicted setbacks for the TMC and CPI(M) in the upcoming civic polls in Kolkata and Howrah, saying the people would “demolish” the “Mamata Trinamool and its friend, the red party (CPI-M), who want to create unrest in India.”
Adhikari also listed steps taken by his government since assuming office in May. These include strengthening border security by providing land to the Border Security Force (BSF) for fencing the international boundary with Bangladesh, joining central welfare schemes such as Ayushman Bharat and PM-Kisan, increasing remuneration for workers and employees (including para teachers and village police volunteers), and raising the dearness allowance of state government employees by more than any previous administration in Bengal.
We will ensure that all your interests are protected in the future as well, he said.