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Kolkata, Nov 24: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has said that democracy is facing a threat in the country under the BJP and called upon the Opposition to work together for the greater interest of the people before the next Lok Sabha polls.
She also accused the NDA government of trying to halt the developmental process in her state.
“Democracy is facing a threat in this country under the present government. It is a super emergency that is going on in the country. I have been an MP for nearly two decades but I have never seen such a government at the Centre,” she said at the India Today Conclave East here Friday.
When asked whether she is hinting at a broader opposition coalition with the Congress before the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, she said, “In Bengal, the Congress and the Left are working with the BJP at the state level. But at the national level for greater interests I think we should work together.”
To a question whether the country would see a grand opposition coalition ahead of 2019, she said, “It depends. We are working together in Parliament. I went to (RJD chief) Lalu Prasadji’s programme in Patna.”
Mamata said, “I have a good relationship with Samajwadi Party chief Akhileshji and BSP chief Mayawatiji in Uttar Pradesh, with Stalinji (DMK), Naveenji (BJD)… I maintain the best of relations with many other people. Even, within the BJP I maintain good relations with some people, but not with all.”
On her meeting with Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray despite being seen as a “champion of secularism”, Mamata shot back: “First, I do not want any secularism certificate from anybody. I am grateful to them as they accompanied us when we met President Pranab Mukherjee after demonetisation.
Bengal will never accept divide and rule politics of the BJP, she asserted and dismissed that it was a challenger to the (TMC) Trinamool Congress government.
“The BJP is nowhere in Bengal but only on media and social media. They only shout. Let the BJP shout along with their bike vahini, but they cannot do anything in Bengal,” Mamata said.
The BJP is trying to position itself as the main opposition in the state.
Mamata described demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax as the biggest blunders of the Modi government. On Rahul Gandhi’s takeover of the Presidentship of his party, she said it was an internal affair of the Congress.
“Allow him to work. Don’t bulldoze me,” she snapped when the interviewer persisted with his questions on whether she would work with Rahul Gandhi.
To another question whether she was not confined to Bengal, Mamata said the Trinamool Congress was recognised as a national party with units in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha and Jharkhand.
Asked if she had ambitions of becoming Prime Minister, she said: “Let me continue as a commoner.” But later she said: “Bengal will lead the country.” Asked if it will be “Bengal or Bengali”, she said, “Bengal will lead the country.”
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