West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched a blistering counter-attack against Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday, drawing a dramatic parallel with the infamous antagonists of the Indian epic Mahabharata. Addressing a public gathering in Kolkata, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo framed the political battle in mythological terms as key issues like border fencing and voter list revision heat up the state's political climate.
Mythological Barbs and Land Dispute
In a fiery speech, Banerjee directly equated Amit Shah's visit to the arrival of a negative character from the ancient saga. "A Dushasana has come to Bengal. When elections come, Duryodhana and Dushasana start appearing," she declared, referencing Shah's ongoing tour of the state. This comparison paints the BJP leadership as modern-day equivalents of the Kauravas, known for their treachery and ambition.
The Chief Minister vehemently countered Shah's accusation that her government was not providing land for border fencing. She posed pointed rhetorical questions, asking, "Today, they are saying that Mamata Banerjee didn't give land. If I hadn't given the land, what would have happened? Who gave the land in Petrapole? Who gave the land in Andal?" Her remarks aimed to refute the central narrative and assert her administration's cooperation on security infrastructure.
Clash Over Corruption and Immigration
Banerjee also dismissed Shah's allegations of widespread "fear and corruption" in Bengal by invoking the state's past. She urged people to remember the situation 14 years ago, claiming significant developmental strides have been made since, particularly citing work in Bankura and efforts to resolve water crises.
The issue of illegal immigration, flagged by the Home Minister as a primary concern for Bengal, faced strong pushback. Banerjee questioned the selective focus, asking why incidents in other parts of India were not discussed with similar intensity. "They say that immigrants only come from Bengal. If that's the case, then did you carry out the attack in Pahalgam? Who was behind the incident that happened in Delhi?" she challenged, linking the discourse to broader national security events.
She accused the BJP of using the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists as a tool to harass citizens and mount political attacks ahead of elections. "Corrupt BJP party. They are harassing people in the name of SIR. Only you and your son will eat, and we will be lectured," she alleged, making a personal dig at the BJP's leadership.
Voter List Revision: A Major Flashpoint
The Chief Minister escalated her allegations regarding the SIR process, claiming it was a conduit for a major scam. She accused the BJP of using artificial intelligence to wrongfully remove names from electoral rolls. Banerjee stated that people were being "tortured" during the verification drive, alleging that around 60 individuals had died due to the process and that elderly citizens were being summoned repeatedly.
Issuing a stern warning, Banerjee announced plans for protest if the deletions continued. "The Trinamool Congress would gherao the Election Commission’s office in Delhi if even one legitimate voter’s name was deleted," she declared. She also vowed to prevent the BJP from coming to power in Bengal, criticizing the party's promise of a "sonar Bangla" (golden Bengal) while allegedly mistreating Bengali speakers in states it governs.
With the 2026 Assembly elections on the horizon, the dual issues of illegal immigration and the voter list revision have solidified as central political battlegrounds in West Bengal, setting the stage for a prolonged and intense contest between the TMC and the BJP.
