New Delhi: The BJP Wednesday went on the offensive against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, saying she revealed her “gotra” to appease the electorate ahead of crucial voting in her constituency of Nandigram on 1 April.
At a rally in Nandigram Tuesday, the last day of campaigning for the second phase of the West Bengal elections, the chief minister while reminiscing about visits to temples ended up stating that her “gotra” is Shandilya.
“I visited a temple where the priest asked me my ‘gotra’. I told him Maa Maati Manush (her campaign slogan during the 2011 assembly elections), but actually I’m Shandilya,” Banerjee said Tuesday.
Reacting to the ‘gotra’ remark, BJP leaders said she is now fearing loss in the elections, and was hence resorting to such tactics.
“I never felt the need to reveal my gotra. But Mamata didi due to the fear of PM Modi and due to the fear of losing polls has told her gotra,” BJP leader Giriraj Singh said. “Didi, just tell me, if Shandilya is also the gotra of Rohingyas and infiltrators. Mamata didi is scared now, that’s why sometimes she’s questioning the Election Commission, sometimes she’s attacking BJP workers like Suvendu (Adhikari) and sometimes using her gotra. But I can say with certainty that she will lose these elections.”
Banerjee is pitted against her aide-turned-rival Suvendu Adhikari at Nandigram.
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BJP on the offensive
On Wednesday, Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat took to Twitter and accused both the Congress and Mamata of using the same tricks.
“From Temple run to I am Hindu too.. Mamata didi’s Gotra realisation is an old trick from Congress book of politics. Same Script, Same Fear, Same Hatred!! #EbarBJP #AarNoiAnnay,” he tweeted.
From Temple run to I am Hindu too..
Mamata didi's Gotra realisation is an old trick from Congress book of politics.
Same Script, Same Fear, Same Hatred!!#EbarBJP #AarNoiAnnay
— Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (@gssjodhpur) March 31, 2021
During the campaigning for the assembly elections, Banerjee has been visiting temples. In Nandigram last month, the chief minister even did a Chandipath (recitation of mantras invoking Goddess Kali) from the stage.
Senior BJP leader Amit Malviya, who is also the party’s deputy incharge of West Bengal, questioned her statement.
“Had Mamata Banerjee not issued fatwas, trampled on the faith of majority community in WB with impunity, reduced them to second grade citizens in their own land, she wouldn’t have had to publicly declare her gotra just before Nandigram goes to poll. Never forget, never forgive,” he tweeted.
Had Mamata Banerjee not issued fatwas, trampled on the faith of majority community in WB with impunity, reduced them to second grade citizens in their own land, she wouldn’t have had to publicly declare her gotra just before Nandigram goes to poll.
Never forget, never forgive. https://t.co/PQza7Pb7Gs
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) March 31, 2021
AIMIM wades into row
The chief minister’s remarks also drew flak from the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), which is contesting the West Bengal elections solo.
“What should happen to people like me who aren’t Shandilya or Janeudhari, aren’t bhakts of certain gods, don’t recite Chalisa or any Path? Every party feels that it has to show its Hindu credentials to win. Unprincipled, insulting & unlikely to succeed,” AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi tweeted.
What should happen to people like me who aren’t Shandilya or Janeudhari, aren’t bhakts of certain gods, don’t recite Chalisa or any Path? Every party feels that it has to show its Hindu credentials to win. Unprincipled, insulting & unlikely to succeedhttps://t.co/FwbuEITnrb
— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) March 31, 2021
(Edited by Arun Prashanth)
Also read: ‘Begum’ Mamata vs BJP ‘rioters’ – how high-profile Nandigram battle has taken a communal turn
India is the land of Hindus. Others are welcome to live here only with mutual respect. If you lack respect and want to convert or enslave us, we will fight back and defeat you. We will also defeat the charlatans like didi who think they can fool us with tokenisms during elections. Hindus of India are finally waking up and uniting. Marxists, congressi, islamists, post-modernists and such riff raff better start running and hiding.
Bye bye Didi……..
At least she mentioned a real gotra- Shandilya and not imaginary gotra ‘Dattatreya’, as told by Rahul Gandhi.
But Shandilya himself would be ashamed to have such descendent like Mamata. HER BEHAVIOR IS MORE LIKE SELLER IN FISH MARKET rather than that of descendent of sage.