Political Crossfire: Sarma vs. Banerjee Amid Rising Tensions

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma accuses West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee of fostering communal tensions. Sarma criticizes former TMC MLA Humayun Kabir's Babri Masjid proposal and warns of border issues. Banerjee alleges BJP undermines Bengal's identity. West Bengal elections approach, revealing intense political rivalry.

In a fiery exchange of political rhetoric, Assam Chief Minister and BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of igniting communal tensions. At a campaign rally, Sarma targeted former TMC MLA Humayun Kabir for proposing to build the Babri Masjid, emphasizing that such actions are inconceivable in BJP-governed states.

"One leader advocates building Babar's mosque, another Shah Jahan's. This does not occur elsewhere in India," Sarma remarked. He urged support for BJP, promising electrified border fences to curb infiltration via West Bengal. However, he noted that similar measures are already underway in Assam and Tripura.

Mamata Banerjee countered by accusing BJP of erasing Bengal's cultural identity. She claimed the people of Bengal endure suffering under BJP's rule, with their constitutional rights in jeopardy. The state's upcoming elections, split over two phases, highlight the intense rivalry between Banerjee's Trinamool Congress and a BJP eager to capitalize on its prior electoral successes.

(With inputs from agencies.)