‘Jerseys used to be blue’: Mamata Banerjee claims BJP has ‘affected’ Indian cricket
Mamata Banerjee claimed that BJP wanted to paint the entire country saffron and that everything from metro stations to practice jerseys of the Indian cricket team are now drenched in that colour.
Calcutta: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday fired a fresh salvo at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleging that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP government at the Center is on a crusade to destroy everything across the country and even the Indian to “saffronize”. The cricket team has not been spared as they now don a saffron jersey during training.
During the inauguration of Jagadhatri Puja at Posta Bazar in central Kolkata, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief noted that Team India’s jerseys used to be blue, whether on the field or during practice sessions, but that has since changed. the BJP came to power at the Center and now the Men in Blue wear saffron practice jerseys.
Mamata claimed that the BJP was leaving no stone unturned in their efforts to paint the entire country saffron and that everything from metro stations to the jerseys of the Indian cricket team’s practice jerseys are now drenched in that color.
Expressing her strong disapproval over this alleged practice, Banerjee said, “They are trying to paint the entire country as saffron. We are proud of our Indian players and I believe they will become World Cup champions. But they (BJP) have also brought saffron colors there and our boys are now practicing in saffron jerseys. The metro stations are painted saffron. This is not acceptable.”
Without explicitly naming anyone, Banerjee denounced what she saw as party politics.
The TMC boss further said, “I have no problem with them erecting statues, but they are trying to make everything saffron. I had once seen Mayawati make a statue of herself. After that I had never heard anything like it. These theatrics cannot always lead to benefits. Power comes and goes.”
Taking a swipe at the BJP, she said the country “belongs to the Janata (people) of the nation, and not just the Janata of any party.”
Lashing out at the Center for withholding funds from the state, Banerjee said the BJP-led Central government was quick to spend crores on front page advertisements but has stopped ‘state funds’, leaving thousands of (MGNREGA) workers being robbed in the state. the state.”
“First I fought with CPI(M). Now I have to fight with the party in power in Delhi,” she said.
While speaking about the upcoming edition of the Bengal Global Business Summit, Banerjee claimed that more than 70,000 businessmen have left the country.
“These businessmen could have invested in the country and the money could have been used here. But now they have moved. We hope that common sense will prevail (in the BJP leader),” she said.
BJP fires back
The TMC supremo’s comment drew sharp reactions from the BJP, which called the allegations a “reflection of a vindictive approach”.
“After a few days, she may wonder why our national flag is saffron colored. We do not even consider it appropriate to respond to such statements,” said BJP leader Rahul Sinha while responding to Banerjee’s allegations.
(With PTI inputs)