Hyderabad: BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari on Friday called for the resignation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. He argued that her resignation is necessary to restore law and order in the state.
Speaking to the media in Hyderabad, Bhandari expressed concern over the widespread extremism in West Bengal. He said that this environment is depriving people of their fundamental rights to protest and raise their voices against problems and injustices. According to Bhandari, West Bengal needs to be freed from what he described as “anarchy, dictatorship, and ultimately the Trinamool Congress (TMC) rule.”
Bhandari criticized the state of law and order in West Bengal, claiming it has deteriorated significantly. He pointed out that despite a woman serving as the Chief Minister, there is no security for women in the state. He specifically referred to the brutal murder of a woman doctor, describing it as a tragic example of the government’s gross negligence in ensuring safety and justice.
The BJP spokesperson highlighted that women in West Bengal are not safe, citing incidents in places like Sandeshkhali, Chopra, and Kolkata. He accused the state government of delaying the transfer of a rape-murder case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which led to the tampering and destruction of crucial evidence. Bhandari argued that a swift investigation and immediate action were required but were not provided due to the administration’s failure.
Bhandari further accused Mamata Banerjee of protecting individuals involved in the case, such as the medical college principal, who was later forced to resign as a mere formality. He also mentioned that goons attacked a peaceful protest by doctors at the medical college, and despite the CBI taking over the investigation, law and order remain under Mamata Banerjee’s administration. He suggested that the police might not have acted because the attackers were linked to the TMC.
Bhandari recalled that the Calcutta High Court had strongly criticized the Mamata government over the rape case, labeling the vandalism at the hospital as a failure of the government.
He also questioned the silence of other political parties, including the Revanth Reddy government and the BRS, regarding the attacks on women in Bengal. He accused these parties of discriminatory practices against women, noting the lack of female representation in the first TRS Cabinet.
Finally, Bhandari took a dig at the Congress and its alliance partners, accusing them of politicizing issues in BJP-ruled states while remaining silent on the situation in Bengal. He questioned whether the response to atrocities against women should depend on the state and the political coalition involved, stating that the alliance is united by “mutual threads of crime and corruption.”
