In an apparent reference to arch rival BJP’s alleged divisive politics, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said political pollution had engulfed India with attempts being made by some people to divide the people of the country.
“We are witnessing that a political pollution that has engulfed the country ... this is to be avoided at any cost … there is an attempt to divide the people of this country… for this we have to remain united… if we remain united then only can fight this attempt to divide the people we do not want division… we want peace… we are for peaceful coexistence,” the Chief Minister said in an inaugural programme ahead of the Christmas celebration in central Kolkata.
Banerjee’s statement is seen as a message aimed at the people of Goa where the Trinamool Congress has launched itself in a big way ahead of the next year’s Assembly elections.
Banerjee’s statement was promptly challenged by the State BJP which alleged that it was the TMC which was trying to divide Bengal along political lines by placating a particular section of the people ignoring the majority section.
“Mamata Banerjee’s divisive politics is well known in Bengal … Not only that she introduced the politics of communal appeasement in the State but during her regime political hooliganism has been democratised … what the Left and the Congress did in pockets her party has been doing all over the State to win elections … she has unleashed a reign of terror in Bengal,” party leader Sayantan Basu said alleging how the ruling TMC rigged the Sunday’s Kolkata Municipal Corporation elections with the help of the police.
All the Opposition parties the BJP, Left and Congress on Monday demonstrated at various places demanding re-polling even as the Left and BJP filed a petition in Calcutta High Court on the issue. The matter is scheduled to be heard on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the State Election Commission made a massive security bandobast ahead of Tuesday’s counting. “A three-tier security layer has been put in place in all the counting centres,” an SEC official said.