In a rare display of solidarity all the Trinamool Congress, the BJP, the Left and the Congress looked to be on the same page even as Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday backed the Indian strike on terror camps deep inside Pakistan with a brief “Jai Hind” and “Jai India” post on the X.
This even as the people at large spilled on to the streets often celebrating and many distributing sweets for having taught “the rogues a lesson.”
Though unlike many other politicians the Chief Minister limited her comments to a couple of words — that many a critic called a “measured expression” with an eye on next year’s elections — senior Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh said, “let Team India keep going, let Team India win. The entire country is on the side of jawans. Rest of the words will be spoken later. Jai Hind,” adding “as a proud Indian my support goes for the Indian army. Let the terror camps be razed to the ground, let there be more such emphatic response to terror attacks on our people.” The Chief Minister who had earlier said that her Government’s stand was the same as that of the Centre on issues related to foreign affairs also appealed to the people of the State to remain vigilant against anti-national activities.
While former State BJP president Rahul Sinha said the people of Bengal stood united in the hour of need when the national Government had taken upon the task of destroying terror networks present State party chief Sukanto Majumdar wrote on the X , “Thank you, Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji! Under your fearless leadership, India doesn’t stay silent — we strike back with force. Nine terror camps in Pakistan and PoK have been wiped out by our brave Armed Forces in a precise and powerful mission. This is New India — we enter their homes and destroy terror!” Marxist leader Shatarup Ghosh hailed the Indian defence forces for its clinical precision in striking the terror points across the border.
“As an Indian we should be proud of our defence forces’ ability to strike back at the face of terror. More than a revenge this should be taken as a lesson taught to the backers of terrorism, because terror can never be a form of protest,” the leader said.
State Congress leader Ashutosh said, “Indian Army has once again proved that it has the capability to complete it mission anywhere and at any condition. Pakistan must be given a befitting reply.”
Curiously the post of the Chief Minister who normally ends her statements with a loud and clear “Jai Bangla” — often to counter the BJP’s Jai Shri Ram — was greeted with sarcastic remarks from the netizens many of whom said that her account might have been hacked and “someone else might have written ‘Jai India’ on her post in place of what she normally writes Jai Bangla.” Incidentally Jai Bangla is the slogan that has been traditionally used by the people of Bangladesh through the seventies till date.
Another netizen wrote, “when India strikes back, Mamata Banerjee, you tweeted ‘Jai Hind! Jai India’. But in 2019, you praised the IAF one day and demanded proof the next - casting doubt on their valour. Patriotism isn’t seasonal, Didi. Stop the chameleon politics.”
Meanwhile, the people came out on the streets in large number exchanging greetings and distributing sweets. “Ab kaleje ko thandak pahucha (now it feels good),” said a shopkeeper at Burrabazar with a word of caution, “however there is no scope of complacency as these terror ants lay eggs in hundreds and breed in thousands.”
Riddhi Malik a homemaker from Kasba area in southern Kolkata purchased three packets of rasgullas to have them distributed in her locality even as she emitted a remarkably mature understanding of the situations.
“In my understanding of Tagore’s philosophy, Offensive nationalism is aggression, but defensive nationalism is patriotism should be hailed. These sweets do not desire the destruction of Pakistani people but their Akas their terror cliques, terrorism is a dhanda in Pakistan, as business nurtured by the Mulla and the Army to make moolah and satisfy their false ego,” she said.”
Arunita a school student said, “the Army should take care that their historical sites are not destroyed and their terror places are rendered into historical places.”
In a parallel development the Bengal Government on Wednesday examined the readiness of its security system through mock drills officials said adding the drill would be conducted for a week.
“There are over 90 sirens in Kolkata and 25-30 sirens in various districts. The mock drill will ensure the readiness of each security system will be checked,” the Indian Administrative Services officer said.
According to sources sirens are installed on the roofs of 90 Government buildings in Kolkata, including the Civil Defence building, Mahajati Sadan auditorium, Calcutta High Court, Kolkata Police Headquarters in Lalbazar, and some other police stations.
The general public will not be a part of the mock drills, sources said adding only security forces would be trained in the art of saving people need. These forces include 55,000 civic volunteers and 7,200 ‘Aapda Mitra’ (Community Volunteers in Disaster Response) and even the National Cadet Corps etc.