Kolkata: A new slugfest has started between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal. The BJP alleged that the TMC through its local body has issued a list at East Midnapore’s Mecheda instructing all the shops including tea sellers for not selling anything to the BJP supporters.
No sooner did this go than viral several BJP leaders including those at the Centre took to Twitter and slammed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya accused the TMC of repeatedly and systematically targeting BJP cadres. “This is not the first time that the BJP workers are being targeted in West Bengal. Even the ration shop sellers got the list and the basics were denied to the BJP supporters there. Over 3 crore people have voted for the BJP, if she goes on like this she will have to pay a heavy price,” he said.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman took to Twitter and wrote, “This is shocking. Would urge CM Mamata Banerjee to see that ALL citizens in West Bengal are protected and not ostracised or denied the basics. Otherwise, a true shame.”
Dubbing the Chief Minister 'fascist’, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra wrote, “This is not “Intolerance” ..this is “Fascism”. Sadly Mamata Baneerjee has today become the epitome of “Murder” “Atrocities” & “Violence”.”
BJP Rajya Sabha MP Swapan Dasgupta said that the move was intended to break the morale of the BJP cadres.
“The blacklist prepared by the local unit of ruling party in W Bengal isn’t unique. Being active BJP workers has been outlawed in the secular inquisition. The idea is to break the morale and the economic backbone of karyakartas, using the cover of media silence & police complicity,” read Swapan’s tweet.
Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress MP of Ghatal Deepak Adhikari claimed that the claim of the saffron camp is false and also that no such list has been floated.
“The claim of the BJP is a bid to malign the ruling Trinamool Congress. The claim of BJP is false and no one has floated such notice and no one in West Bengal is deprived of anything,” added the actor- turned-politician.
