BHUBANESWAR: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday slammed the BJP for playing divisive politics and urged regional parties to come together to stop the saffron brigade’s surge in the country.
The Trinamool Congress chief, who arrived in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday on a three-day visit, also said she may meet Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik even as speculations of a non-BJP third front alliance are rife.
Mamata, who is facing protests from a section of servitors of Sri Jagannath Temple at Puri for her views on beef consumption, is slated to visit the 12th century shrine later in the day. Extensive security arrangements have been put in place in view of her visit.
Talking to mediapersons at Puri, the WB Chief Minister said she is a staunch Hindu and believes in secular values. “I practice Hinduism, but not like others (BJP) who bring the religion a bad name,” Mamata said adding that the national party is playing divisive politics on the basis of religion.
“It’s about time the regional parties of the country are united against BJP,” she said and added that she will meet Naveen and discuss the matter on Thursday.
Asked about the Narada sting operation in which CBI has initiated a probe against 13 Trinamool Congress leaders, Mamata said it is a political vendetta by the BJP. “It is an old case which is being used to target TMC which came to power only in 2011. However, the party would fight the political vendetta legally,” she said.
Describing herself as a devout follower of Lord Jagannath, the WB CM said there is a strong bond between Odias and Bengalis who throng Puri throughout the year.
On Tuesday, the WB Chief Minister had visited two of the TMC MPs-- Sudip Bandyopadhya and Tapas Paul--at Apollo Hospitals here, where they are undergoing treatment. The two were arrested by CBI in connection with chief fund scam earlier.