Kolkata: Union Minister of State for Urban Development Babul Supriyo had to face the ire of party colleagues over his apparent bonhomie with West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee.
The criticism comes in the backdrop of singer-turned-BJP politician from Bengal had shared some lighter moments with Banerjee during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to the state.
“The centre-State relation is an important issue in a democracy. But it doesn’t mean we can forgive the Trinamool Congress (TMC) of the terror that they have unleashed on our BJP workers throughout the state. Our ideology and TMC’s ideology are different and there can be no compromise with them,” BJP national secretary Siddharth Nath Singh said.
“The Jhalmuri diplomacy (spiced puff rice) will not work in Bengal. And the E=MC2 stands for E=energy, M=murder and C=corruption,” claimed Singh, who is also the BJP state in charge.
Later, Supriyo had showered praise on her on Friday at a public function attended by Coal Minister Piyush Goyal, saying “You all know about Einstein’s E=MC2 theory. For me, E stands for energy, C stands for coal and M stands for Mamata di.”
While Banerjee reciprocated calling him a “son of the soil”.
Actress-turned BJP leader Rupa Ganguly also lashed out against Supriyo. “Being a minister means that he had to say good things. But while moving around in the same car with Mamata Banerjee and having snacks, he should not forget the pangs of BJP workers, the torture perpetuated on them. We, the BJP workers, are living with dishonour and pain in Bengal.”
“My request to Babul is that you should remember our pain and take our calls. I would like to tell him that he could have asked why her party men are beating up BJP activists across the state,” she said.
Reacting to the comments Supriyo said, “I am aware of the situation in the state. But I am also sure that any of my party leaders would have done the same. I had been waiting for my car when she came and offered me a lift. How could I refuse she is also the chief minister of my state. There is a difference between a minister and a party leader and a balance should always be maintained. I am trying to do that. Apart from that, I have nothing to say about the comments. I know what I am doing and I don’t need to convince anyone.”
Of late, the political circles in the state are abuzz with rumours of a possibility of an understating between the BJP and the TMC, where it would help the state’s ruling party come clean of the Saradha chit fund scam while it would support the central government in the Rajya Sabha (upper house of parliament) where BJP does not have a majority.
