Kolkata, 17 October (H.S.): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday clarified her recent remarks made in Bhabanipur regarding “outsiders,” asserting that her comments were being “distorted and misrepresented.” She said the term “outsider” was not directed at any linguistic or regional community, but at a specific political party that allegedly brings in people from outside the constituency to manipulate the voters’ list during elections.

Speaking at a Kali Puja inauguration event at Girish Park in Kolkata on Friday evening, the Chief Minister said, “My words are being twisted. I never used the term ‘outsider’ for anyone living here. I was referring to a political party that, during elections, brings in people from other areas to get their names added next to our local voters, so that genuine residents are unable to cast their votes.”

Banerjee alleged that during elections, many people from outside rent hotel rooms and guest houses in Bhabanipur, while some even buy flats to settle temporarily. “How can the same person have their name on two separate electoral rolls?” she asked.

Her clarification came days after her remarks at a Trinamool Congress victory meeting in Bhabanipur on Tuesday stirred controversy. Banerjee, who addressed the event via phone from Darjeeling, had alleged that “Bhabanipur is being filled with outsiders.” The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) later circulated clips of her speech, accusing her of making divisive comments targeting the Hindi-speaking and Gujarati communities living in the constituency.

Explaining the context of her earlier statement, Banerjee said she had been reprimanding her councillors that day. “I told them not to demolish poor people’s slums. It’s not a crime to be poor. But if someone buys land and displaces the poor, that’s wrong. We have no objection to providing houses to the poor under the Bangla Awas Yojana,” she said.

Reiterating her connection with the residents of Bhabanipur, the Chief Minister added, “The people here are my own. I love them and attend their events regularly.” She also directed municipal councillors to pay special attention to cleaning the city’s drainage system, noting that recent rains had caused waterlogging even in several multi-storey buildings.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh