West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his early morning boat ride on the Ganga, calling it a 'photo-op' designed for political gains. Addressing a rally in Howrah, Banerjee claimed that the Ganga in West Bengal is clean enough for such visits, but questioned whether the same could be replicated in Delhi's Yamuna, which she described as heavily polluted.
Banerjee's Challenge to PM Modi
Banerjee accused the Prime Minister of engaging in 'election politics' and symbolic staging. Referring to his boat ride on the Ganga, she challenged him to take a dip in the Yamuna in Delhi. 'Will you take a dip in Yamuna?' she asked, jabbing at the stark contrast between the two rivers' conditions.
Political Context
The remarks come amid the ongoing election campaign in West Bengal, where both the Trinamool Congress and the BJP are locked in a fierce battle. Banerjee's comments are part of a broader strategy to paint the Prime Minister's visits as superficial and disconnected from ground realities.
- Banerjee emphasized that the Ganga in Bengal is clean enough for such activities, unlike the Yamuna.
- She accused the PM of using the boat ride for 'photo-op' and election propaganda.
- The challenge to take a dip in Yamuna highlights the issue of river pollution in Delhi.
The Prime Minister had earlier posted pictures of his boat ride on the Ganga, describing it as a serene experience. Banerjee's sharp retort has added a new dimension to the political discourse in the state.
