WEST BENGAL: Controversy engulfs President Droupadi Murmu’s recent Bengal sojourn, igniting a political firestorm. CPI(M) stalwart Hannan Mollah has accused the central dispensation of leveraging the visit for poll advantages, casting a shadow over the ceremonial trip.
The row erupted over program venue switches and protocol lapses, notably Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s absence at key welcomes. Mollah stressed the President’s sacrosanct status but lambasted the center for what he called opportunistic scheduling. ‘Modi and BJP are using her prestige to bolster their Bengal campaign,’ he charged, tapping into widespread public skepticism.
In a sweeping indictment, Mollah targeted the Prime Minister’s tactics: vote-buying, communal incitement, and Election Commission meddling. Voter list purges affecting millions have sparked outrage, with Mollah alleging a purge of anti-BJP names. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s tour only amplified these concerns.
Addressing ‘The Kerala Story 2’ backlash, Mollah branded it and similar flicks as ideological propaganda from RSS quarters, designed to demonize minorities and polarize Hindus. ‘Naming states to defame them harms the nation,’ he cautioned.
Mollah’s ire turned to Home Minister Amit Shah on infiltration. ‘Center’s failure on borders is now state-blaming fodder for elections,’ he said, questioning inaction and timed outbursts. As political rhetoric escalates, Bengal’s electorate faces a pivotal choice amid these weighty allegations.