Challenging the BJP, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said that she would not back down against the saffron party and continue to live like a Royal Bengal Tiger. The feisty Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo made it clear that she would never implement the CAA and NRC in Bengal.
Addressing a rally at Berhampore in Murshidabad district Mamata lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his claim that the state government employees are not getting salaries in Bengal and asked him to show one such employee.
“As long as I am alive, I will not bow down. I will live like a Royal Bengal tiger. I have already announced that I will not implement CAA and NRC in Bengal and my stand will never change,” said Mamata.
She also said that the BJP is targeting her because of her refusal to implement the CAA and NRC.
Alleging that the BJP would try to intimidate the people, she said that she is not afraid of the ruling party at the Centre. Mamata also said that she knows very well how to fight against guns and goons.
“BJP will try to intimidate you (the people). But don’t be afraid of them. I am not scared of them. My body is filled with scars from earlier attacks. I know how to fight against goons and guns. The people will give a befitting reply if they (BJP) try to intimidate me,” said Mamata.
She raised the insider-outsider debate once again and said that not Gujarat but the people of Bengal would rule the state.
“BJP is not a party of the poor. It is a party of the rich and big landlords. Gujarat will not rule Bengal. The people of Bengal will rule Bengal,” said Mamata.
Lashing out at the defectors in the TMC, the chief minister said that they had joined the BJP in fear that their corrupt deeds may get exposed.
“Some malcontents joined the BJP. They are afraid that they will get caught for cow smuggling or other corrupt deeds,” said Mamata.
At another rally earlier in the day she accused the BJP government at the Centre of resorting to coercive measures against agitating farmers and demanded that the three farm laws must be withdrawn.