Won't allow BJP to create UT in North Bengal: CM Mamata Banerjee

Mamata Banerjee said, "What is the meaning of Union Territory? It means taking away the rights of the people."

Ground Report | New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accused the ruling party of the Center (Bharatiya Janata Party) of being bent on dividing Bengal. She said that a section of BJP is trying to make North Bengal a Union Territory. She also said that she would not allow "any divide and rule policy" to take root in the state.

Mamata said, "In whose interest are they trying to divide Bengal? What is the meaning of UT?" Banerjee said, "It means taking away the rights of the people. But I will not allow anyone to divide Bengal.

The BJP's state unit responded by saying that it does not accept any move to bifurcate Bengal and that the "views" Banerjee was referring to may be those of certain individuals. Leaders of the party's Jalpaiguri unit said a virtual meeting was held on the demand and the issue would be taken up in the monsoon session of Parliament.

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State BJP general secretary Sayantan Basu said, "This is false information. We have never supported any separatist sentiment. West Bengal has faced agitations like Gorkhaland but we are firm on our stand. The party has not supported any such sentiment. Never even discussed the issue." He said, "If a person has any separatist ambitions, he cannot comment on it." State Vice President Raju Banerjee supported Basu's statement. Congress is trying to defame our party."

BJP's Jalpaiguri vice-president, Alok Chakraborty, however, admitted that there was a virtual meeting that was attended by the leaders. Chakraborty said, “This demand has been made here for some time, mainly because of the neglect and lack of development in this sector. This is the reason why North Bengal is a hotbed of separatist movements. The movement of a single state is not possible but it is possible to create a union territory. The issue will be taken up in the monsoon session of Parliament." However, he did not confirm or deny whether the two BJP MPs were part of the virtual meeting.

At the same time, Mamata Banerjee said, "What is the meaning of Union Territory? It means taking away the rights of the people." Emphasizing reports about the Jalpaiguri meeting on Monday, the Bengal CM said, "The Union Territory means to depend on the mercy of Delhi and lose all freedom. But I will not allow North Bengal or any other part of Bengal to lose its independence and become dependent on Delhi."

CM Mamata Banerjee said that BJP is trying to divide the country of its own free will. She said, “She is behaving like a queen who distributes jewelry. They should be ashamed after their humiliating electoral defeat, but instead, they are trying to divide Bengal." Where is the difference between North Bengal and South Bengal, She said. This is all one West Bengal.

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The Chief Minister said that dividing Bengal would not be easy. “It is not easy to sell Alipurduar or Jalpaiguri or Cooch Behar or Darjeeling. BJP wants to divide the country. But I'll stop it. A section of central (BJP) leaders may be involved in the process, including local BJP leaders. Without this, no one would have dared to take such a step.

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