In an apparent attack directed at the BJP, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said that India was experiencing a “Jhuthe Acchhe din (fake good days)” a promise that was made by the saffron outfit and Prime Minister Narendra Modi before coming to power for the first time in 2014. Delivering a short speech during the prayer of Eid at the iconic Red Road in Kolkata Banerjee said that “the situation is not right in India” which was being ruled by politics of “divide and rule” and promised she would continue to fight such political ills till she was around.
“What we are seeing is not good, what is happening is not good, a policy of divide and rule is being practiced which is not right for our country … the politics of isolation that is taking place is not desirable and we should all stand for unity and not division … because we have a right to live together … we have a right to peace,” the Chief Minister said stopping short of naming the BJP that the promise of Acchhe din was in fact a fake promise.
There was a promise of “Acchhe din (good days) … but this is a jhutha (fake) acchhe din … because acchhe din should come with sacchhe din (truthful days) that should include all and not some,” Banerjee said promising a fight for unity in the coming days.
The Chief Minister who later in the day visited the house of Rizwanur Rehman — a youth out of whose mysterious death in 2007 Banerjee had made a big political issue to win the sympathy of the minorities — along with her nephew and MP Abhishek Banerjee called upon the people to put up a united fight against the divisive forces.
“In the days to come we will have to stand together and fight these forces which are trying to divide India … we are sure we will uproot them,” Banerjee said adding those (read BJP) who were disturbing Bengal were jealous of its peaceful atmosphere and unity. “Our unity is unparalleled in India. The unity we have in Bengal makes many jealous … so they are trying to disturb us and abuse me … But I am not afraid of their attacks and I know how to fight this out with your help,” the Chief Minister said adding she would fight for every person “be it a Hindu, Muslim, Sikh or Christian.”
Iterating that she had dedicated her life to the cause of unity, humanity, peace and justice she said that she was “ready to sacrifice my life for that cause instead of bowing down” to the divisive forces.