Kolkata, 07 March (H.S.): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the Centre and the Bharatiya Janata Party while addressing supporters on the second day of her sit-in protest at Metro Channel in Dharmatala, warning that any attempt to weaken Bengal would be strongly resisted.

Speaking from the protest stage, Banerjee said, “The BJP should be careful. Bengal cannot be divided by cutting votes. Bengal is fighting and knows how to fight. If you go too far, we will topple the government in Delhi.”

The Chief Minister alleged that the Centre and the BJP were engaging in intimidation tactics. She claimed that efforts were being made to remove certain individuals from their positions or to pressure them, but said that the people were closely watching the developments.

Banerjee also raised questions over the recent decision to replace the state’s Governor. Without naming specifics, she said the move just ahead of elections was difficult to understand. “I know why the Governor was removed, but I will not disclose it now,” she said, adding that C. V. Ananda Bose had been threatened.

Criticising the Union government further, Banerjee said the leadership in Delhi was functioning with arrogance and surviving with the support of alliance partners. Referring to N. Chandrababu Naidu, she remarked that the government was running on his support. She asserted that her fight on issues concerning the people would continue.

During her speech, Banerjee also mentioned Maharashtra leader Ajit Pawar, saying that a matter in which she had earlier demanded a fair investigation was now proving her position correct.

Nearly two decades ago, Banerjee had staged a 26-day hunger strike at the same Metro Channel location during the Singur land agitation. The memories of that movement are being repeatedly invoked by supporters during the current protest.

The ongoing sit-in demonstration has been launched in protest against the voter list revision process ahead of the upcoming elections. The protest began on Friday and entered its second day on Saturday, drawing significant political attention in the state.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh