'Not afraid of anyone, will defeat BJP in 2021': Mamata Banerjee at virtual Martyrs' Day rally

Amid Covid-19 spread, Mamata during her virtual address to party workers from her residence in south Kolkata said, "The BJP is trying to destabilise all non-BJP state governments including the one in West Bengal."

Accusing the saffron party, which is apparently led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, of playing a "dirty game" in elections, the TMC chief said, "They have dislodged the governments in Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh....They want to capture power in all states. Then what is the need for so many political parties and Election Commission? Let them impose the President's rule then."

"Neither me nor my booth workers are afraid of anyone. We will defeat BJP in 2021," Mamata said in strong words.

Mamata's TMC, which had a dream political run since 2009 General Elections in the state, suffered a setback in 2019 by getting its tally of seats reduced from 34 to 22 while the saffron camp bagged 18 of total 42.

But the TMC supremo doesn't want to give much importance to the unprecedented saffron surge in West Bengal politics which was once a citadel of the Left.

"Some people (BJP politicians) are thinking they have done a big job by winning a few seats...... If people can throw out the 34-year old Left rule, they can easily dethrone BJP," said Mamata.

Not spending more words for the Left and Congress, which have committed to fight the upcoming state elections unitedly, Mamata tried to paint the BJP as a party which creates "riots" and "misrules".

"People (BJP leaders) are always talking about riots. They (BJP) are threatening all including artists," she said.

Returning to the issues like National Register of Citizens (NRC) and Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), which had rocked the Indian politics earlier this year, Mamata said, "We haven't forgotten the fight for NPR [National Register of Citizens]. BJP must not think due to Covid-19, we have forgotten how people were killed in Delhi over CAA protests. We all are citizens in the country."

Mamata on Tuesday accused the BJP government at the Centre of running a dictatorship at a time her own party is accused of blocking some news channels for being vocal against the ruling party.

"Everyone is scared to speak up. Media is scared to talk," she said.

Taking a dig at Mamata, BJP leader Rahul Sinha said, "She is speaking about freedom of press? She has sent the owners of so many news portals to jail. She files false cases against news channels which report against her government."

During her an-hour long speech, Mamata tried to address the concerns of state government employees by reminding them of an "increment" in their salaries.

Hitting out at the Centre over its privatisation move, the CM, a former ally of the BJP, said, "They are bulldosing people. They are selling Railway, Coal India, Air India."

In a major announcement, Mamata said she would give free ration to the people of her state forever, if her party gets reelected for the third term in 2021. 

Due to Covid-19 situation, the state government has already announced free rations for people till Jun, 2021. 

Mamata has also warned her party workers over the issue of "corruption", in the wake of several allegations levelled against the ruling TMC for looting rations meant for poor and indulging in nepotism while distributing reliefs of Amphan-affected people.