Alipurduar (West Bengal) [India], January 3 : Trinamool Congress (TMC) National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Saturday targeted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), saying that the party is like a "snake" that will bite if allowed to stay.
Addressing a rally in Alipurduar during his 'Abar Jitbe Bangla' campaign ahead of the upcoming elections, Banerjee urged voters to stand in the queue and teach the BJP a lesson through EVMs.
"BJP is like a snake. If you keep 1 or 18 in your backyard, eventually it will bite you. This time in the upcoming elections, ensure that no snake is there in Alipurduar. I am 10 times more stubborn than the BJP, and against this behaviour, only the BJP bows down. In the upcoming polls, stand in the queue to teach them a lesson through EVM. Those who want to change the constitution will eventually be removed from power," Banerjee said during the rally.
On Friday, the TMC MP kicked off his month-long 'Abar Jitbe Bangla' campaign from South 24 Parganas ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections.
The yatra focuses on highlighting the achievements of Mamata Banerjee's tenure in Bengal while pressing the BJP on several issues. The development comes amid an escalating political confrontation between the TMC and the BJP over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the state's electoral rolls.
Addressing a rally in South 24 Parganas, Banerjee alleged the BJP of defaming West Bengal, claiming the presence of "Bangladeshis and Rohingyas" in the state. He said that during a recent visit to New Delhi, the Chief Election Commissioner questioned him about the removal of alleged Rohingya and Bangladeshi voters from West Bengal's electoral rolls.
"These people (BJP) defame Bengal by claiming that it is full of Rohingyas and Bangladeshis. When I asked Gyanesh Kumar how many Bangladeshis and Rohingyas were removed from the electoral rolls, he started pointing fingers at me," the TMC leader said.
Calling the BJP "Bangla-birodhi" (anti-Bengal), Banerjee said the forthcoming elections were not only about defeating the party but also about holding it accountable for repeatedly defaming the state. He added that while he had gone to Delhi this time, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee would do so next.
"I told him, 'Put your finger down - you are nominated and I am elected.' Here, people are dying, and Gyanesh is expecting that we would go to meet him with flowers. This is TMC. This time I went to Delhi; next time Mamata Banerjee will go. Then what will you do? This election is not just to defeat them but to teach these 'Bangla-Birodhi' a lesson," he said.