Latest news with #OperationWestBengal
NDTV
5 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
'Operation West Bengal': BJP Minister Sparks Row With New Campaign Call
Kolkata: BJP state president and Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar has stirred controversy on Thursday by invoking a new political campaign dubbed 'Operation West Bengal', aimed at ousting the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) from power. The comments, made ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi speech during a rally in Alipurduar, drew sharp criticism from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who issued a strong rebuttal within hours. Addressing a gathering before the Prime Minister took the stage, Majumdar claimed that under PM Modi's leadership, BJP workers would carry out 'Operation West Bengal' just like 'Operation Sindoor', referring to past political events where several male BJP workers were allegedly killed at the hands of TMC goons. He warned that the saffron party was ready to sweep away the Trinamool Congress and throw it "into the waters of the Bay of Bengal. "In Kashmir, Pakistan had wiped off the sindoor (vermillion) from the foreheads of mothers and sisters. Narendra Modi took revenge for that. Just like Operation Sindoor, we the soldiers of BJP will now carry out Operation West Bengal and overthrow the TMC," Majumdar told the crowd, thanking BJP workers gathered in large numbers. The BJP leader also referred to recent incidents in Murshidabad, claiming that Hindu homes were being selectively targeted and set ablaze. Drawing parallels with the exodus of Hindus from Kashmir in the 1990s, he said, "I visited Murshidabad recently and saw houses burned down. Their only fault was wearing sindoor and tulsi malas. Kashmir and Murshidabad have now become one." Majumdar called on party workers to gear up for a final battle against the TMC government. "We must be ready to uproot Mamata Banerjee's government in 2026 and dump it in the Bay of Bengal," he declared. Reacting sharply, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched a fierce counterattack on both Majumdar and Prime Minister Modi. "They are talking about Operation Bengal. I challenge them to hold elections tomorrow. All central agencies are in your hands. We are ready," Banerjee told reporters here.
The Wire
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Wire
Mamata Accuses Modi of ‘Political Holi' with Op Sindoor, Asks ‘Why Not Give Sindoor to Your Mrs?'
New Delhi: Hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi sounded the poll bugle for next year's West Bengal assembly elections by addressing a rally in Alipurduar, where he continued with the symbolism of Operation Sindoor while accusing the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government of corruption and violence, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee launched a blistering attack. Accusing Modi of using India's military strikes on Pakistan for political gains, Banerjee said that he was playing 'political holi' with the nomenclature of the operation, even as opposition members remain abroad as a part of the Union government's diplomatic outreach in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, Operation Sindoor and the subsequent military conflict with Pakistan. In the first public denouncement by an opposition leader against the prime minister's ongoing blitzkrieg using Operation Sindoor, Banerjee also hit out at the Bengal BJP chief and Union minister Sukanta Majumdar for promising an 'Operation Sindoor-like Operation West Bengal' in the presence of the prime minister. She said that sindoor (vermilion) is a mark of respect for women, that the prime minister should respect women and asked why he was not giving sindoor to his wife first. 'Operation Sindoor name was given with a political goal. But I won't say anything about this. When all opposition leaders are shouting hoarse for the country abroad, at that time the prime minister has come to play political holi – this does not behove the prime minister,' said Banerjee while addressing a press conference. 'You are spreading garbage of lies. They loot and scoot the country. It doesn't look nice to talk in this manner. Regarding Operation Sindoor, though I don't have any comments, please remember every woman deserves respect. They take sindoor from their husbands. PM Modi is not the husband of anybody; why aren't you giving sindoor to your Mrs first? I am sorry to say I should not go into all these matters, but you compel us in the name of Operation Sindoor and Operation Bengal to open our mouths. Am I clear?' At Modi's rally in Alipurduar, Sukanta Majumdar, while introducing Modi, said, 'Pakistan had wiped the vermilion off the heads of our mothers and sisters. Narendra Modi has taken revenge for that. In front of me, thousands of BJP workers will become Modiji's soldiers in the coming days, like Operation Sindoor and will carry out 'Operation West Bengal' and throw the Trinamool overthrow into the waters of the Bay of Bengal.' Modi, in his speech, then linked Operation Sindoor with sindoor khela , a ritual that marks the end of the ten-day Durga Puja festivities in Bengal, where women smear each other with vermilion on Vijayadashami. 'Today, when I have come to the land of ' sindoor khela ', I will naturally discuss India's new resolve against terrorism. The terrorists dared to erase the sindoor of our sisters. So our Army made them realise the power of the sindoor . We destroyed the terror bases in Pakistan, which Pakistan could not imagine,' he said. Banerjee hit back at Modi and said that it was 'sad' to hear the voice of the prime minister making such remarks at a time of national unity when opposition leaders are speaking in one voice abroad. She also challenged him to hold elections tomorrow. 'What Modi ji said today, we are not only shocked but also very sad to hear the voice of the prime minister when all the opposition (leaders) are representing the country to the world, they are taking the bold decision to protect the country's interest, national interest. We will protect the country because it is our motherland. But is it the time for the prime minister of the country, Narendra Modi, and in his presence, his minister, to say 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,' she said. Like his address in Gujarat last week, Modi continued to draw on the armed forces' action during Operation Sindoor and once again reiterated his oft-repeated refrain of 'ghar mein ghus ke maara' (killed them inside their homes). This time he said that after Operation Sindoor, 'Pakistan should understand that ' teen baar ghar mein ghuskar maara hai tumhe' (we have entered your home and killed you thrice).' 'When a direct war is waged, their (Pakistan's) defeat is certain. This is the reason why the Pakistan army takes the help of terrorists. But after the Pahalgam attack, India has told the world. Pakistan should understand that ' teen baar ghar mein ghuskar maara hai tumhe ' (we have entered your home and killed you thrice). From the land of the Bengal tiger, this is the declaration of 140 crore Indians – Operation Sindoor is not over yet,' said Modi. Modi, in his address, also accused the TMC government of orchestrating the violence in Murshidabad and the teacher recruitment scam and said that the people of Bengal don't want ' nirmam sarkar ' (ruthless government). 'People don't want ' nirmam sarkar '. They want change and good governance. That is why the whole of Bengal is saying they don't want cruelty and corruption anymore,' he said. Meanwhile, Banerjee said, 'Please remember, time is a factor. You must remember the timing. Our representative Abhishek Banerjee is also in the team. And he is shouting every day against terrorism. At that time, Mr Modi, not as thePM 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 the BJP Jumla Party,' she said. Banerjee said that the Bengal government is not 'nirmam' as the prime minister had said but ' manobik ' (humane)and accused Modi of divisive politics. 'He has ruled for so long, what has he given? He wants to divide and rule. He does divisive politics,' she said. 'Once he used to call himself chaiwala (tea seller) , then he called himself paharadar (referring to Modi calling himself chowkidar in 2019) . Now, he is saying he will sell sindoor . Sindoor cannot be sold like this. Sindoor is a matter of self-respect,' she said. Questioning the action taken by the government to nab the terrorists who carried out the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 civilians were killed, Banerjee asked where they were now. 'Has anyone seen the terrorists who snatched the sindoor of the women who were victims in Pahalgam? Has he caught them? On hearing the word America, he becomes silent,' she said, referring to Modi's continued silence on US President Donald Trump's claims of having mediated the May 10 ceasefire between India and Pakistan. Banerjee also challenged the prime minister to a direct face-off on television and said that Modi could even bring his teleprompters. 'If you are so brave, then come for a press conference on television. We will have a direct fight on any subject you want. You can bring your teleprompters too if you want,' she said. Modi has been accused of using a teleprompter in his public speeches as he continues to avoid unscripted interviews and addressing a press conference.
