BJP espouses SP Mookerjee vision to seek change in state

Kolkata: BJP president J P Nadda on Monday made an emotive appeal to people of Bengal to vote out the present government “lock stock and barrel” and return the state to the ideals of Syama Prasad Mookerjee, who “divided Pakistan” to restore West Bengal and Punjab to Indian territory during Partition.
He was speaking in a virtual rally for Kolkata to mark the 119th birth anniversary of BJP’s founding father.
In his tribute, Nadda pointed out how the “illustrious son of Bengal” fought against “appeasement” and for the country’s “unity and integrity”. “An MP from south Kolkata made the supreme sacrifice in Srinagar, fighting to the last against the Nehru government giving special powers to Jammu and Kashmir. His birthday assumes significance when the present government at the Centre abrogated Article 370, making the state an integral part of one country, one leader and one Constitution,” he said.
Bengal now throws up a contrast to Mookerjee’sideals, Nadda added. “I have been hearing cut money, cut money these days in Bengal. Use of muscle power marks the end of ideals when Bengal was once known for ideals and ideology. Leaders here are ready to compromise on all fronts only to remain in power. They should be cut to size,” he said while emphasising that Mookerjee never hankered for power.
The BJP chief took a dig at the Mamata Banerjee government over its approach towards the Centre. “Here, the CM refuses to send corona data to the Centre when the PM is taking all states on board to fight the pandemic. Which type of federalism are we working in?” Nadda said. He wondered what regional aspiration the state government had fulfilled by closing the doors on the PM’s pro-poor health scheme Ayushman Bharat.
Reacting to the criticism, Trinamool secretary general Partha Chatterjee said “people make comments from political platforms”.
“You can’t find even 1,000 booths in the state where people are displeased with us,” Chatterjee continued. “The CM has issued stern warning against those who are accused. We have kept it transparent and will take action irrespective of political affiliations.”
On the state’s Covid management, Chatterjee said: “Mamata Banerjee has risked her life during the pandemic to take stock of the situation. The way she roamed around the state is unprecedented. BJP can launch any campaign but they need to take it to the streets and meet people in person.”
The BJP chief also lamented the systemic deterioration in Mookerjee’s home state when the Bharat Ratna — who was the youngest vice-chancellor of Calcutta University — had woven together regional aspirations with the national. “Education has taken a nose dive in the state. Politicisation in education has reached a new low where the place of an individual in education is determined by which party flag he carries. We have to retrieve Bengal’s glory in the fields of education and culture,” Nadda said.
Chatterjee hit back, saying “the BJP president should get his facts right when he comments on education in Bengal”.
Nadda, however, also accused the Trinamool government of denying political space to the opposition. “Narcotics cases are slapped on the opposition. Leaders are kept under house arrest. What kind of politics is this?” he said.
His eyes set mainly on refugees from Pakistan and Bangladesh — for whom the Modi government passed CAA in Parliament — Nadda said this was in line with Mookerjee’s vision. “Mookerjee, while opposing the Nehru-Liaquat Pact, 1950, accused Prime Minister Nehru of failing to protect the minorities in Pakistan,” he said.