Kolkata: Continuing her tirade against the BJP, alleging they were trying to inculcate intolerance in the name of religion, chief minister Mamata Banerjee said that Bengal would continue its protest against the BJP’s politics of “riot”.
“Intolerance is predominant in the whole country in the name of religion. It is only Bengal that can keep intolerance in check and show the way for overcoming it. Maharashtra, Bihar or Odisha can remain silent on this issue but Bengal cannot be silenced, irrespective of the hostile circumstances that Delhi may try to create for us. We are a government of the people, by the people, for the people,” Ms Banerjee said at a programme to mark the occasion of Buddha Purnima.
Ms Banerjee said democracy was at stake in the hands of the BJP without actually mentioning the party’s name.
“They are the government of the dangabaj (rioters), by the dangabaj, for the dangabaj. I am one who cannot be intimidated. I am ready to go to jail but I will always be vocal against the politics of divisiveness,” she said.
In a veiled reference to 2002 Godhra riots in Gujarat, she said, “Butchers are born in slaughter houses, not philosophers”.
Advocating the message of tolerance, the chief minister reinstated, “I am in politics but it does not give me the right to dictate what others will eat. This is not religion. Religion does not teach us to do politics over it or kill people. Those who do it are bent upon blemishing religion. Religion means faith, peace, love and brotherhood.”
Reacting to the remarks made against her by Bengal BJP leader Shyamapada Mandal last month, who had called her a eunuch who practised appeasement politics, Ms Banerjee said, “Looking at the country, it seems like a snake is spitting venom. There are fake accounts on social media in the name of hatred groups who are questioning people about their birth, religion. Where from are they getting such arrogance and courage? This is hooliganism in the name of religion. I want to make it very clear that these people who are indulging in hooliganism in the name of religion are not part of any religion. I feel sad, because India’s soil had been a land of tolerance.”
