West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has stated that the BJP-led Centre has "sold India's prestige to foreign powers" on Thursday. She also claimed that there are times when the Union Government is "begging before the United States, and at times before China."
Banerjee was addressing a discussion on a resolution in the state assembly about attacks on Bengali migrants in other states, where she alleged that the BJP has a "dictatorial mindset" and wants to turn West Bengal into its colony.
As she began to address the resolution in the State Assembly, a ruckus broke out in the hall. Banerjee said, "The BJP has sold India's prestige before foreign powers. At times, the Centre is begging before China, and at times, before the US. They cannot run the country or secure the nation's interests, yet they dare to lecture us."
The West Bengal Chief Minister even went on to claim that the BJP-ruled states obstruct discussions on attacks against Bengali workers. She accused, "Why is the BJP against discussion on the attacks on Bengali migrants? It is because these incidents are taking place in states ruled by the party. They want to suppress the truth."
These remarks also drew a heated exchange between MLAs of both the BJP and the TMC. They disrupted the proceedings by sloganeering and passing verbal barbs against one another.
After this, Banerjee asked, "Why is the BJP not allowing me to speak in the House?"
She highlighted that her party is not against Hindi or any other language, but pointed out that the BJP is anti-Bengali. Banerjee also accused the BJP's "ideological ancestors" of betraying the country during the freedom movement.
She said, "The BJP is a party of dictators. Their ancestors did not fight for India's independence; they betrayed the country."
The chaos intensified further, leading Banerjee to halt her speech for a while.