West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has said her state is not like Bangladesh and accused "political opportunists" of trying to exploit the situation arising from the rape and murder of a doctor at RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata, aiming to provoke unrest similar to that in Bangladesh.
"Bengal's reputation is being tarnished. WhatsApp groups have been created. People who have studied and grown up here are now spreading misinformation about Bengal after moving away. They are defaming Bengal based on one-sided information. They are not hearing both sides. Are you taking advantage of the situation after (what happened in) Bangladesh? But remember that India is a separate country and Bangladesh is a separate country.
“We respect Bangladesh, we respect its language. But this place will not become Bangladesh," Mamata told the media at the state secretariat ‘Nabanna’ after an administrative review meeting on Monday, Daily Sun reports.
This is not the first time Mamata referred to the students-led street protest in Bangladesh while commenting on the people from all walks of life taking to the streets to protest the RG Kar incident and the agitations being organized by opposition BJP and left parties seeking her resignation on the issue.
"Staying out on the street every night causes problems for others. There are many elderly people; loudspeakers disturb their sleep. There are regulations about using microphones after 10:00 pm but we have ignored everything. It has been a month now. I request you to return for the (durga Puja) festival,” she said.
The chief minister flayed a social media campaign urging people not to celebrate Durga Puja because of the rape and murder of the doctor.
Referring to the decision by some Durga Puja committees to refuse the state government's special grant, said the money should be diverted to other organizers.
"Everyone has the right to go for themes of their choice but must avoid stuff that may lead to untoward incidents or bear responsibility," Mamata said referring to the possibility of the R G Kar incident being reflected as a theme in the Durga Puja pandals.
bd-pratidin/GR
