Educated Muslims must work to oust Mamata govt: BJP's new West Bengal prez Samik Bhattacharya
Kolkata, Jul 5 (PTI): Asserting that the BJP will continue to fight the radical elements that were "receiving patronage" of the Mamata Banerjee government, the party's new West Bengal president Samik Bhattacharya on Saturday appealed to "educated Muslims" to oust the TMC from power in the state.
Addressing his first press conference as the state president, Bhattacharya said the BJP believes in Syama Prasad Mookerjee's ideal of inclusiveness, as India is defined by its pluralism.
"BJP does not believe in polarisation as we believe in taking everyone together on the road of progress, with no particular community being appeased. We will fight against any radicalisation effort, we will resist and protest any attack against Hindus and others," he said.
Bhattacharya said he had no difference of opinion with Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, "as he was equally distraught over the way radical elements of a particular faith went on a rampage in Murshidabad in front of the police".
"There is nothing wrong if he talks of Hindu unity. In fact, all those who have lived in Hindustan for thousands of years are Hindus, even if they belong to different faiths, including Islam. BJP has always stood for the right of everyone to practice their own religion," he said, adding "Badhutwavad is Hindutvavad (pluralism is Hindutva)"
The Rajya Sabha MP also accused the TMC of committing atrocities on the Muslim community.
"This government keeps the police inactive when innocent Muslims are attacked by TMC goons. In recent years, several members of the community were killed, injured, and their houses were burned. What did the police do to prevent such attacks?" he asked.
"I appeal to Muslim youths to take up books and shun stones for their economic upliftment. The Mamata Banerjee government has always used them for votes," he said.
Bhattacharya claimed that Kolkata was witnessing a situation similar to that prevailing in the pre-Independence era because of TMC's "divisive politics".
He said Mookerjee and Left icon Jyoti Basu worked to protect the 'asmita' of the people living here, and the BJP will also work in that direction.
"I am appealing to the educated Muslim society to throw away this government. In the next 20 years, there will be no change in power at the Centre as the people of this country are with PM Modi. A BJP government in the state will propel your growth," he said.
Bhattacharya also accused the TMC of "murdering democracy" by gagging the opposition's voice in the state assembly.
"Speaker Biman Banerjee has expunged remarks of an eminent economist like Ashok Lahiri, as this government is not open to criticism of its policies. They are dictatorial. People of the state will dump this government in the sea in the 2026 assembly polls," he claimed.
He also criticised the TMC for "aiding language-based politics of hatred".
"Aren't the people of Bihar and UP living here for centuries, our own? Why should there be an effort to target the Hindi-speaking community who also belong to this state, this country? Actually, the TMC, which is the offshoot of Congress, always has this DNA of parochialism. Remember how Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was sidelined?" he remarked.
He alleged that the TMC's quest for "supremacy" led to the murder of 56 BJP workers in 27 days following the 2021 assembly elections.
Bhattacharya also slammed the TMC government over the state of education and employment opportunities in West Bengal.
"WBJEE results are yet to be published even as months have passed. Students' union elections are not being held in colleges. TMC functionaries who are in no way associated with the education sector are in the governing bodies of 44 colleges," he said.
Appealing to the people across political lines, specifically the Left, to vote for the BJP, he said, "I repeat, keep your party colours and flags at home. Let us rise above party and join hands to dislodge the TMC government from power. Don't cut into votes, people will not forgive the traitors."
Rejecting the allegations, the TMC claimed the BJP could continue "day-dreaming" about dislodging the Mamata Banerjee government.
"They will be rejected by the people again. There is no taker for BJP's brand of divisive politics," TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said.
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Skeleton handed over to police, says Lawyer for Dharmasthala mass burials case complainant
Belthangady: A skeleton, allegedly buried as mentioned in the complaint related to the Dharmasthala mass burials case, has been exhumed and handed over to the Belthangady police. Pawan Deshpande, the lawyer representing the complainant, stated that all necessary legal procedures were followed and a formal statement was recorded before the judge.
The complainant, who has alleged the mass burial of bodies in Dharmasthala, appeared before the Principal Civil Judge and JMFC Court of Belthangady Taluk on July 11 to give his statement.
Speaking to the media after the court proceedings, advocate Pawan Deshpande said, “The complainant is prepared to clearly identify the locations where the bodies were buried. We will cooperate fully with the police on whatever date they set. Relevant information has already been submitted, and there is a concern that evidence could be destroyed. It is now the responsibility of the police to act and exhume the bodies as per the statement.”
When asked about the identity of the accused in the case, Deshpande clarified that the details have been submitted to the court and are with the investigating officer. “We do not have access to that information,” he said.
The lawyer also confirmed that the complainant has not been arrested or taken into police custody. “He is with us and will appear whenever the police direct him to. The complainant is cooperating with the investigation,” Deshpande added.
