Trinamool Congress (TMC) parliamentarian Abhishek Banerjee mentioned on Thursday that he thought of criticisms by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union dwelling minister Amit Shah as “blessings”, at the same time as he launched a broadside in opposition to former get together colleague Suvendu Adhikari, who the TMC describes as a “traitor”.
In an unique interview with News18 Bangla, Banerjee dared his critics levelling corruption allegations in opposition to him to convey all proof in public area, accused the Centre’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of operating a “misinformation” marketing campaign in Bengal, rejected allegations of appeasement politics, confused that the TMC will comfortably win the continuing meeting polls, and mentioned he didn’t harbour ambitions to grow to be the deputy chief minister in the “next 20 years”.
Banerjee, the 33-year-old nephew of chief minister Mamata Banerjee, has been underneath the highlight this election season with the BJP launching a relentless assault on him. The Diamond Harbour MP has been referred to as “tolabaaz bhaipo” (extortionist nephew), whereas turncoats reminiscent of Adhikari have accused him of neglecting others and operating the TMC as a “private limited company”.
“It’s an ashirwad (blessing) for me that the PM of this country and the home minister begin their speeches by targeting me (without naming him),” Banerjee mentioned. He made gentle of the BJP’s “bhaipo” taunt, saying as a human being he’s somebody’s nephew, somebody’s husband, somebody’s father and somebody’s son.
In the hour-long interview, Banerjee sharpened his criticism of leaders who give up the TMC to hitch the BJP, particularly Adhikari and Mukul Roy. On those that jumped ship after being denied tickets, he mentioned deserving candidates have been rewarded this time round.
Banerjee requested why Adhikari, who’s contesting in opposition to the CM from the high-profile Nandigram constituency, didn’t shout his “extortionist bhaipo” slogan whereas he was in the TMC.
“He is saying what the BJP wants him to say,” Banerjee mentioned. He added that “some leaders” acquired damage throughout an organisational revamp of the TMC that aimed to finish their all-pervasive clout and sought to recognise these with potential, denying that the there was an outdated vs younger rift in the get together.
“Who is running a private limited company? He was a minister and incharge of eight districts. His father is an MP (Sisir Adhikari, too, has joined the BJP). So is one of his brothers (Dibyendu Adhikari is still officially with the TMC)…,” Banerjee requested, focusing on East Medinipur’s influential Adhikari household.
On the cost that Adhikari and Roy give up the get together due to him, Banerjee accused them of being concerned in corruption and requested why individuals ought to take their phrases severely. “They don’t appear to have any principle or ideal,” he mentioned.
Banerjee rejected the cost that he and the TMC’s election strategist, Prashant Kishor, had “outsourced” the get together, stressing that individuals who have abandoned the get together have been making such allegations.
He additionally touched upon the current leaked audio — a part of a Clubhouse chat between Kishor and a bunch of journalists — the place Kishor purportedly mentioned PM Modi’s enchantment, anti-incumbency in opposition to the TMC, “Muslim appeasement” of political events in Bengal over time, the Dalit vote and “Hindi-speaking people” would possible profit the BJP. Banerjee repeated Prashant’s clarification that the leak was selectively made to mission a distorted image, and dared the BJP to launch the total dialog.
He mentioned the Election Commission (EC), which is in cost of polling processes, ought to reply why there’s political violence throughout elections in Bengal. He repeated the get together line that central forces have been working underneath the central authorities’s command, referring to the Sitalkuchi incident in Cooch Behar, the place 4 individuals died in firing by forces in the course of the fourth part of polling on April 10. Officials mentioned the forces needed to hearth at a mob in self-defence. Banerjee additionally added that, “at a personal level”, he wouldn’t have objected if EC opted for a single-phase polling in the state, as an alternative of the staggered eight phases in the backdrop of the Covid-19 scenario.
Banerjee additionally rejected critics who accuse the CM and her get together of minority appeasement, asking to “name one flagship state scheme” benefitting just one neighborhood. “Minority and majority should live together in harmony,” he mentioned. Banerjee accused BJP leaders of not speaking on their improvement agenda for Bengal, as he sounded assured of his get together’s victory in the fiercely fought election. “We will come back to power with two-thirds majority (Bengal has 294 assembly seats)…People are uniting against the BJP…they are uniting for communal harmony,” he mentioned.
Banerjee mentioned the BJP, who the TMC calls a celebration of outsiders, was making an attempt to impose “north Indian culture” on Bengal.
Asked if he’ll grow to be the deputy CM if the TMC wins the elections, he mentioned he wished to work in direction of the strengthening of the get together organisation and would possibly refuse such a suggestion, on condition that it’s made in the primary place.
“I am not into the business of fortune-telling. I live one day at a time,” Banerjee mentioned.
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