West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has slammed Union Home Minister Amit Shah over his “victim card” remarks on her leg injury she sustained while campaigning for the 2021 Assembly elections, and suggested that there might be a conspiracy against her life.
Addressing a rally of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) at Manbazar in Purulia, he criticized PM Shah over the “charge sheet” he issued against her government on Saturday, saying: “Who are you to file a charge sheet? You should be charged.”
Shah said on Saturday that Banerjee “played the politics of the victim card”. “Sometimes she breaks her leg, sometimes she ties a bandage on her head, sometimes she falls ill, sometimes she abuses the Election Commission. But the people of Bengal understand her politics as a victim,” he said.
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“They (BJP) are saying that I was moving around wearing bandages. I have fought death many times. Why are they not checking those medical reports? Aren’t you ashamed? Before the last elections (2021) you intentionally hurt me in my legs,” Banerjee replied. “Despite that, I toured Bengal in a wheelchair with a cast because I am strong from within.”
Without mentioning Shah’s name, the Prime Minister said: “Are they planning to kill me now? Why would he make a statement like this? His words make it clear that a conspiracy has been hatched. Character assassination is part of these conspiracies.”
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In 2021, Banerjee suffered an injury to her left leg when she was hit by the door of the SUV in which she was traveling during her election campaign. The incident took place in East Midnapore’s Nandigram district, where she unsuccessfully contested against BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari. She later won a by-election from her traditional seat of Bhawanipore in Kolkata.
Banerjee further claimed that the BJP will end the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme for women and put restrictions on people’s food preferences if it comes to power after the elections.
“Fish is not eaten in BJP-ruled states. If the BJP comes to power, people will not be able to eat fish, meat and eggs. They will stop the ‘Lakshmir Bhandar’ scheme,” she said.
