Mamata slams Mohan Bhagwat’s ‘true independence’ statement

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday criticised RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s recent statement that India’s “true independence” was established on the day of the Ayodhya Ram Temple’s consecration, and called his remarks “anti-national and dangerous”. On Monday, Bhagwat had said that the date of the Ram Temple consecration in Ayodhya should be celebrated as “Pratishtha Dwadashi”, as the “true Independence” of India was established on that day. Answering queries from the media at a press conference in Nabanna, the State secretariat, Banerjee said: “Bengal was the political capital of India. Our country gained independence on August 15, 1947. Do you think the history of the country can be changed by anyone at any time? Our Independence and our democracy are our pride.”

“Mahatma Gandhi, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Bhagat Singh, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad; will we forget them? Will we forget their struggle? Gandhi ji is the Father of the nation. He gave up his life for the country. How will we forget freedom fighters?” she asked. “It is a dangerous statement and I strongly condemn it. He (Bhagwat) should withdraw the statement. Long live our freedom and democracy. What will be our identity if we lose our Independence Day? They are trying to change history and many chapters of the Constitution,” the Chief Minister added.

Mamata Banerjee’s comment drew an immediate response from the Bharatiya Janata Party. State BJP chief and junior Education Minister Sukunta Majumdar called the Trinamool Congress leader an “anti-national Chief Minister” and pointed to claims from September last year – that Banerjee refused to give land for the Border Security Force to build a fence along the Bangladesh border.