Mamata Banerjee's Nameplate Removed and Painted Orange at Nandan
Mamata Banerjee's nameplate was removed and painted orange at Kolkata's Nandan centre, while Jyoti Basu's plaque remains.
In a move that has sparked significant attention in the cultural hub of Kolkata, the nameplate of former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been removed from the main hall of Nandan, the city's renowned cultural centre. Adding to the controversy, the area where the nameplate once stood has been painted over in orange, just as the city prepares for the annual Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF).
A Tale of Two Plaques
While the removal of the former Chief Minister's name has raised eyebrows, observers have noted a striking contrast within the premises. The plaque bearing the name of her predecessor, former Chief Minister Jyoti Basu, remains completely intact and undisturbed. This selective removal has highlighted a peculiar discrepancy in how the legacies of the two former leaders are being handled at the cultural institution.
Mamata Banerjee's Political Offensive in Delhi
This development at Nandan comes at a time when Mamata Banerjee is intensifying her political battle on the national stage. On Sunday, she joined other top Opposition leaders at a massive rally organized by the INDIA bloc at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan. The rally was a protest against alleged irregularities in electoral rolls and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
Standing alongside prominent figures such as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Banerjee launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
"We Will Not Surrender"
Addressing the gathering, Banerjee claimed that the people of West Bengal have been made victims of the SIR exercise. She asserted her resolve to continue the fight, stating:
“Bengal is the victim of the circumstances of this SIR. We will not give up. We will give our lives, we will fight, but we will not surrender. They looted our Bengal. We will save democracy and bring it back.”
She further emphasized that the revenge for these actions would be sought through political and democratic means, vowing that the struggle to protect democracy would persist.
The 'Chalo Delhi' Protest
The rally was part of the larger ‘Chalo Delhi’ protest march, which saw supporters and leaders from across the country gather in the national capital. The march commenced from the Minto Road-Connaught Place junction and culminated at Ramlila Maidan.
The event was attended by several high-profile Congress leaders, including Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. The protest was directed specifically against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the conduct of the SIR of electoral rolls, following a public “impeachment” programme held on October 31.