Mamata Blames BJP for Cuttack Violence; Odisha BJP Slams Her Remarks

Bhubaneswar: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has blamed the BJP and Bajrang Dal for the recent incident of violence in Cuttack, alleging that the saffron party is responsible for spreading communal tension in the city.

“Cuttack is burning. They (BJP) will finish off the country. I have seen many governments, but never such an arrogant and dictatorial one. Today they are in power; tomorrow they may not be. Nothing is permanent,” Banerjee said.

Reacting to her remarks, Odisha BJP president Manmohan Samal said, “It’s not appropriate to comment on Mamata Banerjee, but everyone can see what’s happening in Bengal. She should rather focus on her own state.”

Echoing similar views, Odisha Law Minister and senior BJP leader Prithviraj Harichandan termed Banerjee’s statements “unfortunate and condemnable.”

“What happened in Cuttack was an accident, and the situation is completely under control. The city is peaceful. Making such statements about Odisha is irresponsible,” Harichandan said.

He further added that Banerjee should first look at the deteriorating law-and-order situation in West Bengal before commenting on Odisha. “The people of Odisha have faith in their government. Mamata is trying to defame Odisha, its language, and culture at every opportunity,” he stated.

Harichandan concluded that the people of Odisha do not expect such remarks from the West Bengal Chief Minister and advised her to address her own state’s issues before pointing fingers at others.