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Mamata Banerjee throws open challenge at PM Modi, BJP: ‘If they have guts, go into elections tomorrow'

Mamata Banerjee throws open challenge at PM Modi, BJP: ‘If they have guts, go into elections tomorrow'

Mint5 days ago

Livemint
Published 29 May 2025, 04:13 PM IST West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee addresses the media at State Secretariat in Howrah
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said on Thursday "What Modi ji said today, we are not only shocked but also very sad to hear this, when the Opposition is representing the country...In his presence his minister said that they will do Operation Bengal, like Operation Sindoor. I challenge them - if they have guts, go into elections tomorrow, we are ready and Bengal is ready to accept your challenge. But please remember, time is a factor. You must remember the time. Our representative Abhishek Banerjee is also in the team. And he is speaking every day against terrorism, against terror. At that time, Mr Modi, not as the PM but as the BJP president, you are criticising the Government (in Bengal) which is giving you full support, defending the country like anything. You are accusing the Government and you want to blame the Opposition at this time, at this hour to politicise things just like the leader of BJP Jumla Party...You are doing garbage of lies. They loot the country and scoot. It doesn't look nice to talk in this manner. Regarding Operation Sindoor, though I don't have any comments but please remember every woman has respect..."
Assembly elections are scheduled to be ehld in West Bengal in 2026.

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Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Tuesday stirred up a row as he attacked the BJP over Operation Sindoor, accusing it of seeking votes in the name of 'sindoor' (vermillion) and asked if it had started a 'one nation, one husband' scheme. The BJP hit back accusing Mann of insulting the widows of those killed in the Pahalgam terror attack with his 'cheap political commentary'. Mann hit out at the BJP for allegedly seeking votes in the name of Operation Sindoor for the Ludhiana West assembly bypoll. 'BJP is seeking votes in the name of 'sindoor'. They have made a mockery of 'sindoor'. They are sending 'sindoor' to every home. Will you use it? Will you pass it on and say apply this 'sindoor' in (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi's name? Is it a 'one nation, one husband' scheme?' Mann asked. 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Under Operation Sindoor, the Indian armed forces had carried out strikes on May 7 on nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, including the Jaish-e-Mohammad stronghold of Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba's base in Muridke, in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives.

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