Amidst differences in opposition bloc I.N.D.I.A over seat sharing with TMC in Bengal for Lok Sabha polls, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday called on Bengal and Bengalis to spearhead the battle against prevailing injustices in the nation.
Gandhi’s statement, delivered during the ongoing ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’ in North Bengal, came days after Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee’s announcement that her party would contest the forthcoming general elections independently in the state.
Expressing gratitude for the warm reception in West Bengal, Gandhi remarked, “The people of West Bengal have given me a lot of love. Bengal holds a special place. Bengal led the ideological fight during the Independence struggle. Rabindranath Tagore, Subhash Chandra Bose and Swami Vivekananda had worked to show the path to the country. I am confident that all of you will work to reunite this country.”
He emphasised, “If you don’t rise to the occasion, people will never forgive you. It is not about any single individual; it is about Bengal showing the way and leading in this fight.”
Although Gandhi refrained from directly naming any political entity, his comments elicited diverse reactions from both the TMC and other political quarters.
“Yes, he is correct that Bengal has historically been at the forefront of pivotal movements, notably against British rule.
Mamata Banerjee halted the BJP’s momentum in the 2021 assembly polls and played a significant role in forming the opposition coalition. However, it was the Bengal Congress leadership that compromised with the saffron camp in the state,” remarked TMC spokesperson Shantanu Sen.
Conversely, the BJP state spokesperson criticised Gandhi’s remarks as divisive, stating, “It is astonishing how Rahul Gandhi can make such remarks that hint at sub-nationalism. This is unexpected from a leader of a national party.”
Gandhi’s statement coincides with efforts by the Congress leadership to placate Mamata Banerjee, whom they regard as an “important pillar” of the opposition coalition. The Congress leadership has recently exuded confidence in finding a way forward to resolve the stalemate in the state.
Addressing a gathering in Siliguri, where the yatra paused for the night before resuming from Uttar Dinajpur on Monday, Gandhi lambasted the BJP government at the Centre for allegedly fomenting hatred and violence while prioritizing corporate interests over those of the poor and the youth.