Kolkata, Oct. 11 -- Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday called for protecting the country from what he described as the menace of "cockroaches and bedbugs", targeting the so-called "tukde-tukde gang" while asserting that nationalism and the spirit of 'Vande Mataram' must be strengthened.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Santosh Mitra Square Durga Puja, Adhikari said the BJP government was established in Bengal in accordance with the ideals of Syama Prasad Mookerjee, but the fight against anti-national forces was on.
"Our work is not over yet. We have to save the country from the menace of cockroaches and bedbugs. 'Vande Mataram' must be awakened and nationalism must triumph," he said.
The remarks assume significance amid the Opposition's agitation in Delhi demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. The Chief Minister also invoked slogans demanding "azadi" for Kashmir to accuse groups he described as the "tukde-tukde gang" of remaining active in the country and the state.
The CM said he would not tolerate any insult on saffron and that the state government would take stern steps.
Without naming anyone, he said that an advocate was attacked in broad daylight and the accused was arrested. "The government does not support such acts. But he indulged in attacking Hindutva, which is unacceptable and such posts cannot be tolerated, as we are all Hindus."
Union minister Sukanta Majumdar also made a dig at ex-CPI(M) MP Bikash Bhattacharya for criticising Hindus. "I challenge him to make such obscene comments against any other religion and he will face the music. If Bhattacharya has the courage, he should show it."
Bhattacharya, however, in his social media post criticised the CM for mixing Hindi with Bengali which he felt was an insult to Bengali culture.
The CM later inaugurated the Shreebhumi Puja pandal.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.