Assam Minister Condemns Mamata Banerjee's 'Burning' Remark: A Political Clash Intensifies

Assam Minister Pijush Hazarika condemned Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's fiery statement linking unrest in Bengal to Assam. Hazarika defended Assam's governance, criticized Banerjee's public commentary, and affirmed the state's resilience under BJP rule, following Banerjee's warnings of nationwide chaos if Bengal's issues persist.

Assam Minister Pijush Hazarika has strongly condemned West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's controversial remark suggesting that unrest in Bengal would affect Assam. Addressing the media on Wednesday, Hazarika defended Assam's governance, emphasizing the state's stance against external interference.

'She can't bully, she can't threaten us. She can't control law and order in her state and is threatening us. It will not happen in Assam, I am assuring you,' Hazarika told ANI. He urged Banerjee to maintain decorum befitting her position, considering her long tenure as Chief Minister, and expressed his serious disapproval of her approach. 'I would like to request Mamata Banerjee, she is a very senior leader and a long-time CM, she should know how to speak in public. I seriously condemn it,' he added.

Hazarika reiterated that under the BJP government and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Assam would remain resilient against any threats. 'I can assure you she can't do anything in Assam until the BJP govt is here and Himanta Biswa Sarma is the CM,' he asserted. Assam CM Sharma also responded to Banerjee, saying, 'Didi, how dare you threaten Assam? Don't show us red eyes. Don't even try to burn India with your politics of failure. It does not suit you to speak divisive language.'

Banerjee's remarks came during a public function in Kolkata, where she accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of exploiting his party to incite unrest in Bengal, following a horrific rape and murder incident. She warned that if unrest continued in Bengal, other states including Assam, the North-East, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Delhi would also face turmoil. 'We will topple your chair,' Banerjee asserted.

Additionally, BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi alleged that Banerjee threatened doctors by suggesting no FIRs would be registered against protesting medical professionals, in an attempt to protect their careers but also control dissent. He criticized this as a 'new strategy to threaten' doctors. West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, denouncing Banerjee’s statement as an endorsement of revenge politics.

The political tension follows the brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, which has sparked nationwide protests and demands for justice. The incident has led to an outcry for stringent measures against the perpetrators and an end to politicization of such tragic events.