West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, who is on a three-day visit to Odisha, will visit the Lord Jagannath Temple in Puri today to offer prayers and worship. “I am a true Hindu, but I believe in secularism,” said Mamata while accusing the BJP of practicing divisive politics.
“BJP believes in divide-and-rule policy on the basis of caste, religion and language. We don’t follow that. For us, all religions are equal. Being a true Hindu and a believer of secularism, I won’t allow BJP to spread hatred and divide people,” he said.
Mamata also rejected all charges against her party leaders and MPs in chit fund case, saying it was a conspiracy by the BJP to malign, defame and demoralise Trinamool Congress.
“I will never cow down under pressure. I will fight back. Will talk to like-minded political parties across the country, seeking the Opposition Unity to fight BJP’s divisive and hate politics,” she said. She favoured a grand alliance to fight BJP and said she would talk to Nitish Kumar and Naveen Patnaik on this.
Mamata Baneerjee also confirmed that she has sought time from her Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik for a meeting tomorrow.
Ms Kalinga AI