'A Dushasana has come to Bengal': Mamta Banerjee hits back at Amit Shah, denies 'no land' charge

NEW DELHI: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday hit back at union home minister Amit Shah, equating him with Mahabharata characters Duryodhana and Dushasana.

Addressing a crowd in Kolkata, Banerjee said, “A Dushasana has come to Bengal. When elections come, Duryodhana and Dushasana start appearing,” she said, referring to Shah, who is currently visiting the state.




"Today, they are saying that Mamata Banerjee didn't give land. If I hadn't given the land, what would have happened? Who gave the land in Petrapole? Who gave the land in Andal?" the TMC leader added, Iin response to Shah's claim that the government was not giving land for border fencing.

Responding to Shah's allegation of "fear and corruption" she said, "Remember the situation 14 years ago, people were scared. A lot of development work was done for Bankura, and much was done to overcome the water crisis."

On Shah's claim that illegal immigration was mainly a Bengal problem, Banerjee questioned why incidents elsewhere were not being discussed and accused the BJP of harassing people during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists. She alleged that the issue was being used to target citizens and level political attacks ahead of elections.

"They say that immigrants only come from Bengal. If that's the case, then did you carry out the attack in Pahalgam? Who was behind the incident that happened in Delhi? Corrupt BJP party. They are harassing people in the name of SIR Only you and your son will eat, and we will be lectured," the West Bengal CM said.

The Special Intensive Revision of the voter list and the question of illegal immigration have emerged as major political flashpoints in West Bengal, with both expected to play a key role in the run-up to the 2026 Assembly elections.

The West Bengal CM further accused the BJP of running a major scam through the Special Intensive Revision of voter lists, alleging the use of artificial intelligence to remove names from the rolls.

Banerjee also said people in the state were being tortured in the name of SIR. She claimed that around 60 people had died during the process and alleged that elderly citizens were being summoned repeatedly for document verification.

Warning of protests, Banerjee said the Trinamool Congress would gherao the Election Commission’s office in Delhi if even one legitimate voter’s name was deleted.

The chief minister also said the BJP would not be allowed to come to power in the state. Taking aim at the party’s election pitch, she said that while the BJP talks about building a “sonar Bangla” during campaigns, people who speak Bengali are allegedly attacked in states ruled by the party.

Speaking earlier today, the home minister had said, "After April 15, 2026, when the BJP government is formed in West Bengal, we will start the revival of Bengal's heritage and culture. This 'Banga Bhoomi' holds great importance for us because the BJP was formed by Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee, who was a big leader from here."

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