Mamata's Explosive Charge: BJP Has Shackled India's True Freedom
Mamata: BJP Stealing India's Real Freedom
In a scathing attack on the eve of India's 79th Independence Day, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee declared that the nation remains far from truly free under the BJP-led central government, accusing it of eroding fundamental rights and fostering division nearly eight decades after British colonial rule ended. Banerjee, the fiery leader of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), emphasized Bengal's pivotal role in the freedom struggle while lambasting the BJP for alleged atrocities against Bengalis and manipulative tactics.
"Despite India having achieved Independence 78 years back, the people are not truly independent under the rule of the fascist BJP," Banerjee stated in a late-night social media post, vowing to fight for communal harmony and genuine independence. She attended events in Behala and Hazra, where she rallied supporters against what she called the BJP's "divisive agenda."
Expanding on her critique, Banerjee highlighted Bengal's indispensable contributions to India's freedom, asserting, "If Bengal was not there, India would not have got Independence. Bengal's soil has produced eminent people like Rabindranath Tagore, Nazrul Islam, and Subhas Chandra Bose. The national anthem, the national song, and the 'Jai Hind' slogan are all creations of Bengalis." She noted that nearly 70% of inmates in the infamous Cellular Jail were Bengalis, underscoring the region's sacrifices.
Banerjee's remarks come amid escalating TMC-BJP tensions, fueled by recent electoral battles where TMC retained strongholds in West Bengal despite national BJP gains. She accused the central government of withholding funds for key schemes, including depriving the state of wages under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), the 100-day job guarantee program. "The BJP-ruled central government is trying to misuse the Election Commission to introduce the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Bengal in the name of the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls," she claimed, warning it could disenfranchise vulnerable voters.
Adding a layer of cultural pride, Banerjee decried "language terror" against Bengali-speaking migrant workers in BJP-ruled states. "Only yesterday, I read about a father accompanying his son to a sporting event who was not allowed accommodation at a hotel in Noida for speaking in Bengali. If we can honour your languages, why can't you respect ours?" she questioned. She further alleged that some migrants are being falsely labeled as Bangladeshi citizens and deported, exacerbating fears among partition-affected communities. In her Independence Day eve message on X, Banerjee paid homage to Bengal's revolutionaries like Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and Matangini Hazra, lamenting that the same land now faces hatred and rights violations.
Shifting to empowerment, Banerjee celebrated the 12th anniversary of her flagship Kanyashree scheme at a grand event in Kolkata's Netaji Indoor Stadium. The UN-awarded program, aimed at preventing child marriages and promoting girls' education, has benefited over 93 lakh students with Rs 17,000 crore disbursed, reducing school dropout rates to zero at primary levels and significantly lower at higher stages. She announced the launch of Phase 11 of the Sabuj Sathi scheme, distributing bicycles to 12.5 lakh Class 9 students at a cost of Rs 525 crore, further boosting student mobility and retention.
Addressing a rally, Banerjee pledged to battle "till her last breath" against encroachments on freedom of speech, movement, and rights, urging unity in diversity. "Tomorrow is Independence Day. I urge all to discard narrow-mindedness and divisive thoughts. Bengal stands for harmony," she said. As India marks another year of sovereignty, Banerjee's words resonate amid ongoing debates over federalism, migration, and cultural identity, setting the stage for intensified political confrontations ahead.
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