Mamata roars like 'Royal Bengal tiger' to Nadda's nudge

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee likened herself to “Royal Bengal Tiger” while responding to BJP chief JP Nadda’s constant tirade against her party and nephew Abhishek Banerjee.

“I am not weak. I am strong. I will walk with my head held high till the time I am alive. I will live like a Royal Bengal Tiger till the time I live,” she said at East Bardhaman on Tuesday (February 9).

Nadda responded to Mamata’s attack on the Centre over farm laws. “The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi has given Rs 14,000 each to 11 crore farmers. However, 73 lakh farmers in West Bengal were denied the benefit. If Modiji comes to power, in our first cabinet meeting we will ensure this money is given,” he said.

To Nadda’s comment, Mamata said: “BJP only lies. They say Mamata is blocking farmers’ money (but) did you not get Krishak Bandhu (a state scheme for farmers) money? Now tell Modi to send the money he promised. We have sent names (but) they don’t send the money… lie every day.”

Earlier, Nadda took a dig at Mamata during the ‘Poriborton Yatra’ in Kolkata on Tuesday (February 9).

Nadda blamed Banerjee and Trinamool Congress (TMC) for destroying West Bengal’s culture and depriving the state of development. “BJP’s Pariborton Yatra started from Nadia. Now we are in Kolkata and then we will go to Jhargram. Our only objective is to unite the people,” Nadda said.

The BJP president said “people of Bengal want pariborton (change)”. “Enough Mamata ji, people want change,” he said.

Two days back, Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated to the nation several infrastructure projects in the port town of Haldia, including the ambitious 348-km Dobhi-Durgapur natural gas pipeline built by GAIL. Speaking after the inauguration, Modi said, “Mamata ji doesn’t want development”.

At Kolkata, Nadda listed out Union government’s schemes meant for the benefits of people.

Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee hit back at BJP and its Pariborton Yatra. Speaking at a rally at Kalna in Purba Bardhaman, she said, “The BJP’s Rath Yatra is a five-star bus that outsiders use to roam around the state.  They do not live in Bengal, but are busy doing photo op at poor households with food from five-star hotels. Are these people pro-poor?” Banerjee was referring to JP Nadda’s inaugural speech during the ‘Poriborton Yatra’ at Nabadwip in Nadia district where he ate with farmers.

Mamata also exhorted voters to eat food given by BJP workers, but “don’t vote for them”. “The party (BJP) has a lot of money. But this is stolen money. This money belongs to poor farmers. If they give you money, eat mutton, but don’t vote for them,” she said.

The chief minister addressed the farmers directly. “You sow the seeds and they will take away everything. As against it, my government buys from farmers and distributes it to the needy. The TMC government pays farmers through cheques to buy grains. We will continue to give free ration like before,” said Banerjee.