West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee addresses a rally on the last day of the campaign for the 2nd phase of Assembly elections, in Nandigram.
TMC supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in a letter to the heads of other political outfits including Sonia Gandhi, Sharad Pawar, MK Stalin, Tejashwi Yadav, Uddhav Thackeray, Arvind Kejriwal, Naveen Patnaik, said that the time has come for a united and effective struggle against BJP's attack on democracy and constitution.
In her letter to chiefs of other political parties including Congress, NCP, AAP others, Mamata Banerjee wrote, "I strongly believe that the time has come for a united and effective struggle against BJP's attacks on democracy & Constitution."
The three-page letter to Opposition leaders dated March 28, the Trinamool Congress supremo said, "I am writing this letter to you, and to several leaders of non-BJP parties, to convey my serious concerns over a series of assaults by the BJP and its government at the Centre on democracy and constitutional federalism in India."
"The BJP wants to make it impossible for non-BJP parties to exercise their constitutional rights and freedoms. It wants to dilute the powers of the state governments and downgrade them to mere municipalities. In short, it wants to establish a one-party authoritarian rule in India," she wrote.
She stated, "I strongly believe that the time has come for a united and effective struggle against BJP's attacks on democracy and Constitution."
In her letter, Banerjee, who is taking on BJP's Suvendu Adhikari from Nandigram assembly constituency in the state, gave seven instances of alleged "assaults" on democracy and cooperative federalism by the BJP.
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She discussed the controversial new law that gives more powers to Delhi's Lt Governor compared to the elected government and said that "the Lt Governor has been made the undeclared Viceroy of Delhi, acting as a proxy for the Home Minister and the Prime Minister".
"What the BJP has done in Delhi is not an exception. It is increasingly becoming the rule," she said. She also pointed out how the BJP-led Centre is creating problems for elected governments in the states.
The Trinamool Congress leader also cited the examples of misuse of the office of the governor, central agencies like the CBI and Enforcement Directorate.
She also said pointed out the withholding of states funds, disbanding bodies like the National Development Council and Planning Commission, using money power to topple non-BJP governments, privatisation of nation's assets and deterioration in the relations between the states and the Centre.
Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Banerjee said, "Overall, Centre-State relations between the ruling party at Centre and the opposition parties have never been as bad in the history of independent India as they are now, and the blame for this rests squarely with the Prime Minister's authoritarian conduct."
The ruling Trinamool Congress and the BJP are engaged in a bitter war of words in the state in the run-up to the assembly polls. Polling for the 294 member assembly is scheduled in eight phases from March 27 to April 29. The counting of votes will take place on May 2.
BJP supporters greet Didi with 'Jai Shri Ram' slogans in Nandigram
On Tuesday, BJP supporters reportedly greeted West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee with 'Jai Shri Ram' chants in Nandigram.
Banerjee, who is contesting the Assembly elections from Nandigram against BJP's Suvendu Adhikari, her once-close aide turned adversary, is campaigning in the constituency since Sunday.
It is learnt that before she was about to leave for Bhangabera, BJP supporters greeted Banerjee with Jai Shri Ram chants at Reyapara. A local Trinamool worker said that sensing defeat, the BJP is resorting to cheap tactics to make others uncomfortable.
The personnel deployed for the Chief Minister's security ensured that the BJP supporters did not reach near her. A BJP worker said that raising Jai Shri Ram chant is not a crime.
(With inputs from IANS)
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