It is now almost clear that the opposition is going to make Mamata Banerjee its PM candidate.
Congress Rajya Sabha MP Abhishek Singhvi has said that Mamata Banerjee is a pillar of the non-BJP opposition. So, the TMC supremo could as well be the opposition PM candidate for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Even though Mamata Banerjee’s party has not been accepted anywhere except in Bengal, as evident from the recent assembly election results, she still thinks that she can be the PM candidate, and that too against PM Modi! Let’s see how the opposition PM thinks!
Russia-Ukraine war
But how does the opposition PM candidate think? Well, BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari has posted a video of Mamata Banerjee addressing a public gathering.
He tweeted a video in which Banerjee is allegedly asking PM Modi, “Shouldn’t you have pondered before stoking a war (between Russia and Ukraine)…that when our boys (students) return (from Ukraine) where will they eat…where will they go, how will they continue their studies? Making hollow promises…”.
Adhikari tweeted, “Unimaginable !!! Hon’ble CM @MamataOfficial exceeded her limit yesterday & accused the Centre of stoking war between Russia and Ukraine. Isn’t she aware that these words could be used against India diplomatically? Our Foreign Policy & International Relations might get impacted.”
Unimaginable !!!
Hon'ble CM @MamataOfficial exceeded her limit yesterday & accused the Centre of stoking war between Russia and Ukraine.
Isn't she aware that these words could be used against India diplomatically? Our Foreign Policy & International Relations might get impacted.
— Suvendu Adhikari (Modi Ka Parivar) (@SuvenduWB) March 30, 2022
But it isn’t the first time that such a controversy has taken place.
Balakot airstrike
After the Indian Air Force (IAF) targeted Jaish-e-Mohammed camps based in Pakistan’s Balakot in 2019, Mamata Banerjee had said, “From the very beginning, we have been hearing on national television channels that 300-350 persons have died in the airstrike. We want to know how many people actually died. Did anyone die at all? Where were the bombs dropped? Were the bombs dropped at the right place?”
Read more: India readies its defense forces for more Balakot-style missions in Pakistan and China
Citing international reports, the Bengal CM said that she had read reports “no such incidents took place”.
She further quoted such reports and said, “The bombs fell in some other place and missed the target. Some of them are saying that only one person died.”
BJP’s national general secretary Kailash Vijaywargiya had then hit back, saying, “Mamata Banerjee is making irresponsible and anti-national comments. Three top officials of our armed forces presented the truth on Thursday. With these kinds of comments, she is helping Pakistan. She is not believing our forces, our media, but trusts the foreign media and the Pakistan government. These statements hit the morale of our soldiers. This is unpardonable.”
Around 300 terrorists are estimated to have been killed in the airstrike conducted by the IAF. However, within India, the airstrike snowballed into a political issue with the opposition asking for ‘proof’ of the airstrike.
Army exercise
In 2016, there was a major face-off between the Centre and Bengal government. Bengal CM had then alleged that the Army was deployed at two toll plazas.
She said, “Army has been deployed at two toll plazas without informing the state government. This is a very serious situation worse than Emergency.” Banerjee added, “It is an attack on the federal structure. We want to know the details. The Chief Secretary is writing to the Centre. Given an opportunity, I will talk to the President on the issue. Has Emergency been imposed in the country without declaration?”
The Army Eastern Command however said that it was “a routine exercise with full knowledge and in coordination with the West Bengal Police”. Later, the Eastern Command released four letters showing acknowledgments by concerned authorities prior to the exercise.
‘Gaddar’ jibe at Bihar CM; “Hitler’s uncle” barb at PM Modi
As per media reports, Banerjee had used the word ‘gaddar (traitor)’ for Bihar CM Nitish Kumar without taking his name.
Nitish Kumar had backed demonization as a necessary move to combat black money. Bengal CM however said, “Demonetisation ke issue par sab opposition partiyon ko ek hona chahiye. Jo gaddari karega, janta usey maaf nahi karegi (All opposition parties should be united on the issue of demonetisation. The public will not forgive a traitor).”
And then, Banerjee had also described PM Modi as “Hitler’s uncle“. This was one of many barbs taken against PM Modi.
Banerjee is slowly emerging as the main opposition leader. Many opposition leaders across party lines say so. The TMC supremo also said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre will not have a free run in the upcoming Presidential election.
She said, “Presidential elections will take place soon. Without our support, you (BJP) will not sail through. You should not forget that.”
Read more: Laughable! Mamata Banerjee still dreams of choosing the ‘Mahamahim’
However, the opposition PM candidate seems to have a career full of controversies. Her remarks give a sneak peek into her thought process.