West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee speaks during the Budget Session of State Legislative Assembly, in Kolkata on February 18, 2025.
| Photo Credit: ANI
Refuting allegations of “minority appeasement”, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday (February 18, 2025) launched a scathing attack on the Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly Suvendu Adhikari, stating that she would resign if the allegations levelled against her were proved to be true.
Mr. Adhikari, who was suspended from the State Assembly on Monday over charges of creating ruckus in the House, has alleged that the government under Ms. Banerjee was an “anti-Hindu government”, and that Ms. Banerjee was a leader of the “Muslim League”. The BJP leader also alleged that Ms. Banerjee’s government was soft on terrorist groups.
“Now, I will have to hear this …that I have links with terrorists from Jammu and Kashmir and Bangladesh. If you can prove this, I will resign from office…It is better to die than to hear such allegations,” the Chief Minister said while participating in a debate in the State Assembly.
A visibly upset Ms. Banerjee said that she would write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over such allegations being levelled by the Leader of the Opposition.
“You are calling me ‘Muslim League’… What percentage of Muslims are staying in this State? They should not go to school, they should not eat. We should ostracise them all?” Ms. Banerjee asked. She said that those who were calling her a ‘Muslim League’ leader took the help of Muslim parties during elections.
Accusing Mr. Adhikari of spreading canards against one community, the Chief Minister asked if the Leader of the Opposition would be able to fend himself if people from the community began protesting.
Mr. Adhikari and three other BJP legislators were suspended by the West Bengal Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee on Monday after the MLAs protested over an adjournment motion that raised concerns over Saraswati Puja not being allowed in the State. On Tuesday, the BJP legislators boycotted the proceedings of the House, including the Chief Minister’s speech, and held protests in the House wearing saffron robes and turbans.
The Chief Minister disapproved of the allegations relating to Saraswati Puja, and said that every school, college, household, and club observed the festival. During her speech, Ms. Banerjee highlighted that she hailed from a Brahmin family, and was a proud Hindu.
“Freedom of speech does not mean inciting hatred or dividing the House. Freedom of speech is not hate speech. You (BJP MLAs) exploit religion for political gains, but we do not,” she added.
Responding to Ms. Banerjee’s criticism, Mr. Adhikari said that the Chief Minister was alarmed by the consolidation of Hindu votes in Haryana, Maharashtra, and Delhi.
“She is alarmed by the word Hindu and the reference to minority appeasement…. She is alarmed over the punya snan (holy dip) at Maha Kumbh,” Mr. Adhikari said, adding that millions of Hindus from West Bengal had visited the Maha Kumbh.
The Nandigram MLA said that the Chief Minister would have to answer why the West Bengal Police could not arrest Saad Sheikh, an alleged member of a banned terror organisation, the Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), who was able to include his name in the Murshidabad district voters’ list. Sheikh was arrested in an operation by Assam Police in January 2025.
The BJP leader said that Ms. Banerjee had clarified she was from a Brahmin family, a proud Hindu, and did not indulge in appeasement. “However, she stands exposed when she said that if people from a particular community come out on the streets, will I be able to fend for myself? You are Home Minister of the State — what do you want to convey by all this?” Mr. Adhikari asked.
The LoP and three MLAs were suspended on Monday for a period of 30 days.
Published – February 18, 2025 09:26 pm IST