New Delhi, Jan 17: BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra on Saturday launched a sharp attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, alleging that she has transformed ‘Sonar Bangla’ (Golden Bengal) into ‘Bhay Bangla’ (Bengal of fear). He also accused her of indulging in what he described as divisive appeasement politics.

He further said that the “TMC stands for ‘Tushtikaran’ (appeasement), Mafia, and Crime by infiltrators”.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, Patra said Bengal holds a special place in India’s civilisational and national history; however, he said that it was with “great sadness” that he was compelled to comment on the present situation in the state.

According to him, governance in Bengal under Mamata Banerjee has taken a “troubling turn”. “You may recall, the British attempted to split Bengal as part of their policy of appeasement,” he said.

Patra went on to claim that it would not be politically incorrect to say that Mamata Banerjee is willing to use appeasement politics to divide people. “One is forced to think now, ‘Is Bengal not a part of India?'” he questioned.

The BJP leader said he would present facts and video evidence to highlight what he termed as shocking developments in the state. Referring to the ongoing SIR process, he said it is being conducted systematically across several states and had also taken place in 2003 with discussions in Parliament.

“SIR is also happening in Bengal. How Mamata Banerjee is unconstitutionally trying and resorting to violence to stop the SIR process in Bengal, I will present to you what we have observed,” he said.

Patra alleged that booth-level officers, known as BLOs, are not safe even inside election offices.

“So much pressure is being put on them that they are being pushed towards suicide. The office, including the Block Development Officer and their staff, is being attacked as if it were enemy territory,” he claimed.

Citing a specific incident, Patra said that in Farakka in Murshidabad district, a BLO office was attacked in the presence of Trinamool Congress MLA Manirul Islam.

Quoting the MLA, he said, “Manirul Islam openly said, ‘Yahan Ram se paper nahi maanga jaata, Rahim ka paper hi check kiya jaata hai’.”

“I want to tell Mamata Banerjee that this is not the story of Ram-Rahim but of Rohingyas. She wants to save the Rohingyas and Bangladeshis so that she can win the elections through their votes. However, we want to make it clear that you will never be able to win by dividing India, and India will not sit silent,” Patra added.

He further alleged that even after an FIR was registered in the matter, the name of the Trinamool MLA was not included, raising questions over the functioning of the Mamata Banerjee-led government.

Reiterating the BJP’s slogan ‘Ek hain to safe hain’, Patra said unity was essential to face the present challenges. “If everyone is united, only then can we face this fight together,” he said.

Patra also referred to ongoing violence in Murshidabad, claiming that NH-12 has been blocked and railway services disrupted.

“Is this not part of India? Are people not allowed to travel on NH-12? Trains are being set on fire, and Mamata Banerjee is justifying it, claiming it is the dissatisfaction of minorities,” he alleged.

He added that when Trinamool leader Abhishek Banerjee is questioned, “he says, ‘If names are cut, protests will happen’.”

The BJP spokesperson also mentioned an alleged attack on a journalist, Soma Maity, in Murshidabad while she was covering protests in Beldanga. He claimed that her cameraman was also beaten up in the presence of the police and called upon media professionals to unite against such incidents.

Referring to the suicide of BLO Ashok Das, Patra alleged that he was under pressure from the Chief Minister and a local leader, Raju Biswas.

“He was told that if any name of the infiltrators is removed, then they will attack his family,” Patra claimed. Ashok Das, a resident of Ahalya Nagar in Mukundapur, was found hanging from the ceiling of his room on Thursday.

“When repeated threats were given, the person, Ashok Das, committed suicide,” Patra said. Recalling a purported audio and phone call, he added, “I was just watching a video and listening to it, a phone call from Ashok Das’s wife, who was crying bitterly to someone, saying, ‘My husband died by hanging from the ceiling fan; he has committed suicide. What should I do now? I’m filing an FIR against the TMC’.”

Patra said the pain in her voice had turned into a democratic resolve. “Mamata Banerjee’s efforts have now led to Bengal, what was once called ‘Sonar Bangla’, being turned into ‘Bhay Bangla’. Politics is spilling blood in Bengal,” he alleged.

Mumbai, Jan 17: Following the declaration of results for 29 municipal corporations, the Shiv Sena (UBT) on Saturday hit out at the BJP. While the BJP’s lotus has bloomed in 23 out of 29 cities, it is the loss of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) that has triggered a fierce war of words.

With the BJP-led Mahayuti crossing the majority mark with 116+ seats, ensuring a BJP Mayor for Mumbai, the Thackeray camp has accused Chief Minister Eknath Shinde of betraying the Marathi people.

Senior leader and MP Sanjay Raut launched a scathing attack on Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief leader Eknath Shinde, comparing him to the historical figure ‘Jaichand’ who has long been considered a symbol of betrayal in Indian history.

Raut stated, “If Eknath Shinde had not turned into a Jaichand, then even if 100 generations of the BJP had descended upon Mumbai, they could never have installed a BJP Mayor. This reminds me of the incident at Shaniwar Wada, where Balaji Pant lowered the Maratha ‘Jaripatka’ (Saffron flag) and raised the British Union Jack, granting entry to the East India Company. Shinde and his associates are the descendants of such figures.”

Raut further emphasised that the Opposition strength remains formidable. “The BJP-Shinde combine has a thin majority. There are 110 people in the Opposition, including the Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS. This number is not small; we will not let them move even a blade of grass without a fight. Losing the Mayoralty is a moment of grief for Maharashtra and Mumbaikars,” he added.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) signalled its intent to stay in the fight by posting an image of founder Balasaheb Thackeray on social media with a defiant message “This battle is not over yet… It will continue until the Marathi Manoos receives the respect they deserve!”

The BJP-Mahayuti has effectively ended the 30-year hegemony of the Thackeray family over the BMC, the richest civic body in India.

Despite the loss, the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction intends to use the “regional pride” narrative to consolidate its base ahead of the 2029 Assembly elections.

By using terms like “East India Company” and “Balaji Pant,” the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena is framing the BJP’s win as a corporate “takeover” of Mumbai by outside forces, aided by local “traitors.” While the BJP prepares for the Mayoral coronation, the Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS are expected to coordinate closely in the Opposition benches.

Indore, Jan 17: Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi arrived in Indore on Saturday to meet families and patients affected by the recent vomiting and diarrhoea outbreak linked to water contamination in the Bhagirathpura area of the city in Madhya Pradesh.

Several state Congress leaders, including Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari, LoP in the State Assembly Umang Singhar, former Chief Minister and Rajya Sabha MP Digvijaya Singh and former minister Sajjan Singh Verma welcomed Rahul Gandhi at Indore Airport.

After a formal meeting with state Congress leaders and workers at Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Airport, Rahul Gandhi visited the Bombay Hospital where nearly a dozen people affected by the contaminated water are admitted.

“Rahul Gandhi will visit Bombay Hospital and then he will be meeting the families of the victims and offering his condolences to those who lost their loved ones due to the outbreak in Bhagirathpura area,” PCC chief Jitu Patwari said.

On the other hand, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, who visited the Union Carbide factory site of the 1984 Bhopal Gas Tragedy on Saturday, said that his government has shifted and disposed the 337 metric tonnes of toxic waste from the infamous site.

In a targeted attack at LoP Gandhi, Chief Minister Yadav reiterated his accusation, stating that the Bhopal gas tragedy occurred during the Congress government’s rule and thousands of people died. He also reiterated his allegation that the Congress leaders are playing politics on death in Indore.

On Friday, addressing an event in Narmadapuram district, Chief Minister Yadav had stated that, “thousands of people died in the Bhopal gas tragedy (on December 3, 1984) which occurred during the then Congress government.”

“The then Chief Minister late Arjun Singh had facilitated the departure of Warren Anderson, the CEO of Union Carbide Corporation, under the instructions of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi,” he alleged.