"They have turned Sonar Bangla into a prison": Mamata Banerjee attacks BJP, calls for mass movement

Addressing party workers, supporters and the general public through a video message, Banerjee said, "Thousands of cases have been done on our workers. Panchayats, municipalities, district councils have been occupied. I think everyone should come together. There should be a mass movement. "

Attacking the BJP over the situation in West Bengal, Banerjee said, "They have turned Sonar Bangla into a prison. Where has the Bangla of peace, harmony and culture gone?"

She also criticised the BJP and said, "Some people in the BJP who do not know the politics, the culture, are insulting the patriot Subhash Chandra Bose. The slogan Jai Hind is heard on everyone's lips. Netaji and Rabindranath Tagore are out of the country. Many are making fun of them. We are ashamed to hear their language. Some are calling him a traitor. Some are playing the dirty game of politics."

Urging the younger generation to remain vigilant, she said, "I will tell the young generation to look a little. Will Bengal be lost from Bengal? Before coming to power, the BJP said that it would open the file. Where did all that go? Netaji will be disrespected in his place."

On the police, Banerjee said she respected the force but alleged that some personnel were being used to intimidate political workers.

"I respect the police I have worked with. But these police are intimidating. They are intimidating me into joining another group. They are saying either join another group or go to jail. Is this the job of the police?" she said.

Banerjee also raised concerns over the alleged mistreatment of Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers.

"ASHA workers have been humiliated in Gangajalghati. As for me, I am subjected to abusive language. The royalty payments for my books have been withheld; that is what I rely on for my livelihood. The BJP must have had a hand in this. After all, the BJP's funds are never held up. They have frozen our bank accounts," she said.

She also alleged that names of welfare schemes and projects had been changed, saying, "The name of Annapurna Bhandar has been defaced. Many names have been removed. The name of Lakshmi Bhandar has been changed to mine."

Banerjee said her party would reach out to the family of an ASHA worker who died and alleged that she was being prevented from visiting certain places.

"My team will go to talk to the family of the ASHA worker who died. I will go wherever I go. I am not being allowed to go," she said.

She also raised several issues concerning women, students and youth, including the Brij Bhushan Singh case and the NEET protests.

"Brijbhushan case not getting justice. How many women were raped, they are not allowed to meet their families. They are threatening them with the police. Those who started the NEET movement are being labelled as anti-national," she alleged.

Banerjee also questioned the BJP's criticism of student and youth movements, saying, "Where did you get a group from? There is no ghost, no future. You are just insulting the students and youth."

Appealing to people to speak out, she said, "My appeal to people with conscience, will you still be silent?" (ANI)