Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma to Mamata Banerjee: “How Dare You Threaten Assam?”
Guwahati, 29th August 2024: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday responded strongly to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s statement, “If Bengal burns, so will Assam,” by saying, “Didi, how dare you threaten Assam?”
In a post on X, the Assam Chief Minister said, “Didi, how dare you threaten Assam? Don’t try to intimidate us. Don’t attempt to ignite division across India with your failed politics. Such divisive rhetoric does not suit you.”
Earlier in the day, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, during a public address in Kolkata, accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of fueling unrest in Bengal following the Kolkata woman doctor’s rape and murder case. She warned, “If you ignite Bengal, other states like Assam, the Northeast, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Delhi will also burn, and your power will crumble.”
She added, “Some people believe this is Bangladesh. I have love for Bangladesh, as we share language and culture, but let’s not forget Bangladesh is a separate nation, and so is India. Modi Babu is using his party to create chaos here. If Bengal burns, Assam, the Northeast, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Delhi will burn too! We will overthrow your regime.”
The horrific rape and murder of a woman doctor-in-training at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital sent shockwaves across the nation. The incident sparked nationwide outrage, prompting several protests demanding justice for the victim.
The West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Forum organized a protest march in Kolkata today, calling for justice for the doctor who was brutally raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
This protest coincided with the BJP’s 12-hour Bengal Bandh on Wednesday, which aimed to highlight the growing discontent among the medical community over the lack of safety measures and the demand for swift justice. BJP workers also staged demonstrations in Asansol, where they blocked railway tracks.
On August 27, chaos erupted in the streets of Kolkata as security forces fired tear gas, used water cannons, and resorted to lathi-charge to disperse protesters on Howrah Bridge who were marching towards the West Bengal State Secretariat, Nabanna, amidst the intensifying protests over the rape and murder incident.
On August 25, Parimal Dey, a teacher from Alipurduar in West Bengal who had been honoured with the Banga Ratna award by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in 2019, announced his decision to return the award in protest against the state government’s handling of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape-murder case.
The body of the trainee doctor was discovered in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9.
