New Delhi, April 7 (IANS) Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, accusing them of indulging in “appeasement politics” and creating an atmosphere of fear and insecurity in West Bengal.
Speaking to IANS, Singh alleged that the situation in West Bengal has deteriorated to the extent that it has become a “fight for survival” for the people. “Mamata Banerjee can spread as much illusion as she wants, but the reality on the ground is different. This time, it is a fight for survival there. The people will either survive, or Bangladeshis will rule under her leadership. Even the slightest slip could turn it into a question of life and death,” he said.
The Union Minister further claimed that people in the state are living in fear and are being forced to struggle for their existence. Referring to a slogan often raised in the past, he said, “We used to say: ‘If you want to live, learn to die; at every step, learn to fight.’ Today, people in West Bengal are fighting for survival -- whether non-Bangladeshi Muslims will be able to live there or not. There is also a serious crisis for Hindus. It has now become a question of life and death.”
Singh asserted that these circumstances have led to anxiety within the ruling leadership in the state. “That is why Mamata Banerjee is feeling uneasy, as people are witnessing the ground reality and are increasingly dissatisfied,” he added.
Targeting Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, the Union Minister criticised his recent remarks, alleging that opposition leaders are disconnected from broader national concerns. “Whether it is Mamata Banerjee or Mallikarjun Kharge, both seem to see only ‘namaz’. Kharge said that if one sees a snake while offering namaz, the snake should be killed first. But the real ‘snake’ here is themselves, who have looted the country,” Singh remarked.
He further accused opposition parties of fostering divisive politics and claimed that such approaches are harmful to national unity. “As long as the BJP and the RSS are there, there is no place in the country for those who spread terror or act against national interests,” he said.
Continuing his criticism, Singh alleged that certain leaders selectively invoke religious references. “They stay only with people offering namaz, which is why their examples also revolve around namaz. They could not give an example related to temples,” he said.
--IANS
sn/dpb
