Rajat Sharma, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief, India TV
On Tuesday, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee told an election rally that "I feel like giving Modi a tight slap of democracy". The constitutional head of government of a state was using such words against the constitutional head of government at the Centre. Really shocking.
There is no doubt that Mamata Banerjee is a grassroots political leader who has created her party's base by dislodging the Left after a protracted struggle. She is indeed a firebrand leader and people appreciate her fighting spirit. But this does not mean that she can insult the Prime Minister for political gains. How can the Chief Minister of a state use such demeaning remark against the Prime Minister of India?
Elections may come and go. Leaders may win or lose power. All this is part of democracy, but to use such words for political gains is unacceptable.
And why is Mamata angry? She is angry because she does not want what she calls 'outsiders' coming to Bengal and taking away her chunk of Hindu votes by raising the issue of Muslim appeasement.
By raising the slogan of 'Jai Shri Ram' and the issue of restrictions on immersion of Durga Puja idols , BJP has been alleging that Hindus in Bengal are being sidelined and the TMC government is appeasing Muslims. BJP leaders are trying to make a big issue out of Mamata's mistakes, and, on her part, Mamata has started realizing that mobilizing Muslim votes alone will not help.
She has, therefore, changed her stance and is trying to project BJP leaders as 'outsiders' in order to create an issue of Bengalis versus outsiders. It is because of this that in the heat of poll campaign, the West Bengal CM is making intemperate remarks about the Prime Minister.
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