Mamata attacks PM, calls for film titled 'Disastrous Prime Minister'
Barasat: Taking a dig at Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday called him a 'disastrous' Prime Minister and questioned the timing of the release of the film "The Accidental Prime Minister", wryly commenting that it is nothing but a political stunt.
"Some people are indulging in political theatrics. Ahead of the elections, a film has been made in the name of 'The Accidental Prime Minister'. All are accidental prime ministers. It is a distortion of facts. If this film is screened, one should make another film on 'Disastrous Prime Minister'. In future years, such a film will also be made. Nobody will spare you and whatever you do today will be paid back by the same coin," Banerjee said while speaking at the inauguration of Jatra Utsav here on Friday.
She said though she had ideological differences with the Congress, she believed that making such a film was "unethical".
"I do not do politics with the Congress and we have (ideological) differences. I have come out of the Congress and formed the Trinamool Congress with your blessings. But I believe that what is being done by twisting facts is unethical.
Referring to Modi with the iconic villainous character of
Sholay's Gabbar Singh, the Chief Minister said: "People get scared when they see the face of Gabbar Singh (Modi). He can neither speak nor smile. He is dividing people along religious lines. Democracy does not prevail in the country and there are constant attempts to divide our motherland."
The Chief Minister flayed the Income Tax Commissioner's circular seeking expenditure details from all major Durga Puja organisers in the state and asked the big clubs to avoid the central tax authorities. Banerjee questioned whether the Narendra Modi government at the Centre was trying to stop the Durga Puja festivity in Bengal by taking away the organisers' money in the form of income tax and warned that her party would not spare anyone who tries to do so.
She also accused the Centre of hijacking various Bengal government projects. "They are sending letters to the people with the BJP's symbol on them claiming all credit for various state government projects. The Bengal government pays 80 percent of the total crop insurances for farmers in the state. We have deposited Rs 625 crore as farmers' premiums with the Insurance Corporation in 2018," Banerjee said.
"How will the Modi government pay money for various projects after it is voted out of power in the Lok Sabha elections this year? Around 12,000 farmers across the country have died, many of whom have committed suicide. We have waived taxes (khajna) and mutation fees for the farmers, announced packages of Rs 2 lakh for their accidental benefits as well," she added.
Criticising the Prime Minister, Banerjee said: "The letters delivered by the Modi government in the name of Swasthya Bima have no importance as the BJP will lose the forthcoming elections. As we pay half the amount for health insurance announced by the Centre, we have de-associated our Swasthya Sathi project from that of the Centre. Swasthya Sathi scheme was started by us in 2017 and the Centre began a similar project later without informing us."
Earlier, before the elections, the Prime Minister had promised Rs 15 lakh in every bank account. "Now, he would say that Rs 15,000 would be credited to your accounts and later the Centre-owned banks would demand a payback."
Known to be a theatre-lover, Banerjee asked stage artistes to choose more plots based on politics and showcase realistic subjects depicting social causes.
"I am not asking to stage any political drama. Choose plots which are realistic, highlighting social causes and showing the youth, girls and women of the state," she said.
She also increased the one-time financial benefit for Jatra artistes belonging to 600 groups from Rs 9,000 to Rs 15,000.
