Howrah, Nov 12 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the previous Left Front and TMC governments, accusing them of exploiting religious festivals, cultural traditions and linguistic differences for political gains.
Adhikari also asserted that his government would not allow the return of what he described as divisive and appeasement-driven politics.
Addressing a programme at Kazipara here ahead of Chhath Puja, he said the 34-year rule of the Left Front and the subsequent 15-year TMC regime had damaged the state's social fabric and undermined its centuries-old traditions.
“We will work to permanently keep away from the people of Bengal both the 34-year-old atheist Communists and the 15-year-old Jamaat-following Trinamool (TMC). The present government will ensure that they never get an opportunity to raise their heads again,” the CM asserted.
Adhikari alleged that successive governments had used festivals and religious occasions as instruments of political polarisation, creating divisions among communities instead of preserving Bengal's pluralistic cultural traditions.
Taking aim particularly at the TMC, he claimed that the party systematically weakened the state's traditional social and cultural ethos during its 15 years in power.
He alleged that the previous regime had sought to divide the Sanatan community by exploiting linguistic differences, and portraying people from other states as outsiders.
“Indian citizens coming from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra were branded as outsiders, while illegal immigrants from Bangladesh were treated with undue hospitality,” the chief minister said.
Adhikari also accused the TMC leadership of attempting to project the BJP as a non-Bengali political force to consolidate its electoral support base, while allegedly marginalising different sections of society for political convenience.
The remarks come against the backdrop of the BJP's sustained political campaign in Bengal over alleged illegal infiltration, identity politics and what it describes as minority appeasement under the previous TMC government.
Adhikari also alleged that thousands of crores of rupees had been illegally transferred out of the country during the previous regime, while linguistic and religious fault lines were exploited to retain political power.
Issuing a stern warning to those accused of corruption, Adhikari said his government would not spare anyone involved in financial irregularities.
“Nobody involved in corruption will be given the slightest concession,” he said.
Responding to Adhikari’s barbs, CPI(M) leader Satarup Ghosh said the Constitution allows people to remain atheists, but does not allow them to accept bribes.
"We practise atheism and there is nothing unlawful about it. But Suvendu Adhikari was caught on camera allegedly accepting money, an act that constitutes a crime. He must answer for his actions,” Ghosh said, alluding to the Narada scam.
