Mamata Banerjee alleges Suvendu Adhikari threatened her with 'house arrest', calls on President, CJI
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo had challenged the present government earlier in the day stating no one could prevent her from stepping out for public meetings
Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee has approached the President of India and the Chief Justice of India, questioning if Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari's public statements about preventing her from leaving her home constitute a form of house arrest. Banerjee, the principal opposition leader, challenged the ruling establishment's restrictions on her public meetings and highlighted Adhikari's remarks which suggested she should "speak less, take rest." This exchange occurs against a backdrop of internal TMC divisions and Banerjee's challenges in maintaining grassroots connect and political relevance, with social media serving as a key platform for her voice.
Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee has approached the President of India and the Chief Justice of India, questioning if Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari's public statements about preventing her from leaving her home constitute a form of house arrest. Banerjee, the principal opposition leader, challenged the ruling establishment's restrictions on her public meetings and highlighted Adhikari's remarks which suggested she should "speak less, take rest." This exchange occurs against a backdrop of internal TMC divisions and Banerjee's challenges in maintaining grassroots connect and political relevance, with social media serving as a key platform for her voice.
Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee has approached the President of India and the Chief Justice of India, questioning if Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari's public statements about preventing her from leaving her home constitute a form of house arrest. Banerjee, the principal opposition leader, challenged the ruling establishment's restrictions on her public meetings and highlighted Adhikari's remarks which suggested she should "speak less, take rest." This exchange occurs against a backdrop of internal TMC divisions and Banerjee's challenges in maintaining grassroots connect and political relevance, with social media serving as a key platform for her voice.
The battle of words between West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and former CM Mamata Banerjee on Monday led to the Trinamool Congress supremo calling upon the President and Chief Justice of India, as she asked whether the CM's remarks amounted to house arrest.
Taking to X, she posted, “@SuvenduWB, while seated in a government office, has brazenly THREATENED me, publicly declaring that he will ensure I cannot even leave my home. I call upon the Hon’ble President of India, the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India, and the people of India: Is this the India envisioned by our Constitution? A sitting Chief Minister, sworn to uphold that very Constitution, openly threatens to curtail the freedom of the Chairperson of the principal opposition party, @AITCofficial. The words were unambiguous: 'I will ensure you cannot leave the house'.”
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo had challenged the present government earlier in the day stating no one could prevent her from stepping out for public meetings. “I will not stop until you (BJP) get sanyas,” stated Mamata. The TMC has been denied permission for public meetings on some occasions which has not gone down well with the party supremo who questioned how the BJP was holding rallies.
In response later, Adhikari stated that Mamata should not step out. “You don’t have to get on to the streets. I will ensure you don’t have to get on to the streets,” said Suvendu Adhikari going a step further to say, “Speak less, take rest, you (Mamata) have aged.”
Adhikari was referring to incidents where Mamata attempted to meet families in Baruipur and Halisahar whose monthly financial assistance of ₹3,000 under the Annapurna Yojana was delayed. Following this, the government went on to take measures in each case and prevent the situation from spiralling out of control.
With a split among MPs and MLAs of the TMC, the Mamata faction finds itself outnumbered in the political fight against the ruling establishment. With Mamata not having an official standing in the West Bengal assembly, her attempts to invoke her street fighter image to stay relevant have often been futile in recent times. Attempts to reconnect with her partymen at the grassroots in the state are proving to be difficult. Taking to social media platforms to voice her opinion against the BJP government and garner public support are Mamata’s strongest weapons in the current situation.