Thanks, but no thanks: Mamata tells Modi
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has refused Prime Minister Narendra Modi's offer to install a grand metal statue of 19th-century reformer Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar at the same spot where it was vandalised a day back.
A bust of Vidyasagar was vandalised during the violence that took place during Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah's road show in Kolkata on May 14. The BJP and the Trinamool Congress have since been blaming each other for the incident.
To this end, PM Modi promised a "grand statue" of the reformer at the same spot where his bust was vandalised in Kolkata. He said, "We will install the statue made of ‘panch dhatu' (five metals) at the same place where the earlier status was installed. We are committed to Vidyasagar's vision."
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief, in response, on Thursday said, "Tumi bolcho Trimool Congress koreche... Lojja korena? Kaan dhore uth-bosh kora uchit eyi Prime Minister er... ek baar noyi, lokkho baar mitha kotha bolar jonne."
This roughly translates to: "PM Modi said he'd construct a Vidyasagar statue. I want to tell him Bengal has the money to install the statue. But can he give back the 200-year old heritage? We have the proof and you say that TMC has vandalised Vidyasagar bust. Aren't you ashamed, Modi? You should be punished for lying not once, but a million times, liar! You should hold your ears and do a 100 sit-ups. Prove your allegations or we'll take you to court."
