Bangla Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today slammed the BJP for its politics of hate and discrimination. She was speaking at the Khelashree award ceremony. She said an atmosphere of fear prevailed in the country. CBI is hounding anyone who criticizes the BJP.
She also said that sting operations are being organised for money. From computers to internet, mobile phones to banks, even the privacy of people was under attack, she commented.
Highlights of her speech:
Industry is suffering due to GST and demonetisation. Sports and cultural fields are the biggest sufferers due to lack of sponsorship.
They are creating hurdles if someone wants to help the clubs. CBI is hounding them. People are afraid.
Do not be alarmed. Law will take its own course. They want to use state machinery for their political gain; this cannot be allowed.
They are spending money to conduct sting operations. They are recording personal conversations of friends, married couples, journalists, judges, industrialists.
From computers to internet, mobile phones to banks, even the privacy of people was under attack, she commented.
We organise Durga Puja, Christmas, Eid, Buddha Purnima. We all participate in festivities. This is our pride.
In Bangla, even if we have to starve, we will share our food with others. We want our youths to conquer the world. They are our pride.
We love our country and we will not allow anyone to divide it.
Someone’s surname cannot become their identity.
We believe in the ideology of Swami Vivekananda, Ramakrishna Paramhansa, Netaji. We believe in the philosophy of Rabindranath and Nazrul. We believe in unity and harmony.
Does anyone ever ask whether Gandhiji was Gujarati or Bengali? No. Gandhiji was Gandhiji. Someone who takes everyone along can become the leader of the nation.
This country is our pride. Bangla’s soil is the purest. Where else can you find soil enriched with such purity? This soil taught us the meaning of freedom. This soil taught us about the renaissance. We must maintain the dignity of this land.
Let the new generation come forward. Even Swami Vivekananda used to say that playing football is an easier way to reach God instead of reading the Gita. Sports promote an environment of harmony and culture.
The Indian Cricket team has seen the captaincy of Md Azharuddin as well as Sourav Ganguly. Have we ever questioned whether they are Bengali or Hindu or Muslim? We work together in harmony.
Those who are the citizens of this country cannot be called foreigners. We are all citizens of this country. We vote; we all hold bank accounts. If one cannot provide their birth certificate of their parents, are they not citizens of the country? This is what is happening in the country. New agendas are being chalked up to discriminate against the people.
To become a citizen (as per the new Bill), one must be considered as a foreigner for the first six years; only then can one receive citizenship. This is the provision. These are election tactics, don’t believe them. Till the time we are alive we cannot be intimidated with such tactics.
If something happens to one person, another will stand up for him/her. People’s court is the highest court. Let everyone live in peace.
