There is no UPA now, Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said on Wednesday after her meeting with the NCP leader Sharad Pawar in Mumbai.
There is no United Progressive Alliance (UPA) now, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Wednesday after her meeting with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar in mumbai.
“There is no UPA now,” Mamata Banerjee was quoted as saying by PTI after meeting Sharad Pawar.
Taking a dig at Mamata Banerjee for her cryptic remark, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal said that if someone thinks that without Congress anybody can defeat the BJP, it is merely a dream.
“Everybody knows the reality of Indian politics. Thinking that without Congress anybody can defeat BJP is merely a dream,” Venugopal said.
Mamata Banerjee is on a visit to Maharashtra, where she is holding back-to-back meetings with other Opposition party leaders. On Tuesday, the Bengal CM met with Shiv Sena leaders Aaditya Thackeray and Sanjay Raut. She met NCP president Sharad Pawar on Wednesday.
Earlier in the day, the TMC supremo lashed out at the political pushback against her party’s plans to expand outside of West Bengal, soon after the drubbing the TMC suffered at the hands of the BJP in the Tripura civic body polls.
“I want to see BJP out of this country politically. If Congress is contesting in Bengal, why can’t I do so in Goa?,” Mamata Banerjee said during an interaction with members of the civil society in Mumbai.
The Bengal chief minister said it was important to stay in the field and fight against the BJP, otherwise they will “bowl you out”.
“If all regional parties are together then it will be easy to defeat BJP. I had to move out from Bengal even though things are good in the state so that others also move out and there is competition,” she said.
Taking aim at the BJP-led central government, Mamata Banerjee said the Centre’s decision to revoke the farm laws as well as the recent reduction in fuel prices were calculated moves with the upcoming polls in mind.
“During election time, PM Modi is scared and hence prices of petrol and diesel go down. But the rest of the time, their prices rise. The farm laws were repealed with elections in mind,” she said.
The TMC chief, on the other hand, claimed to not just talk the talk, but also walk the walk.
“It’s the habit of politicians to talk more but I like to talk less and walk more,” she quipped.
Asked about the controversial Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), Mamata Banerjee said the ruling party was misusing the draconian law to settle scores and quell dissent by going after Opposition leaders and detractors.
“UAPA is not for civic society. It’s being misused now. I don’t have a personal grudge against any agency but they are being misused. If BJP goes out and we are in power, I can assure you there will be no law that is against the people. Constructive criticism is needed,” she said.
