‘Comments Foster Hatred, Enmity…’: Complaint Filed Against Mamata Banerjee Over ‘If You Burn’ Warning To PM Modi

A complaint was filed against West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday over her provocative remarks in which she allegedly warned that violence and unrest could be erupted in other states if attempts were made to stir up trouble in Bengal.

Vineet Jindal, a practising lawyer at the Supreme Court filed the complaint with Delhi Police commissioner against the TMC supremo.

Read more: ‘Malicious Campaign’: Amid Row, Mamata Says She Didn’t Speak Against Doctors, Draws Fresh BJP Barbs

“A Complaint Against Mamata Banerjee, West Bengal Chief Minister, Under Sections 152, 192, 196, and 353 of the IPC has been filed with Delhi Police commissioner. Copy has also been sent to President’s office and ministry of home affairs,” Jindal said in a post on X.

The advocate argued that Banerjee’s remarks inflammatory, potentially inciting regional hatred and enmity, and thus posed a threat to national harmony and public order. He further contended that as chief minister, Banerjee’s statement carried significant weight, making the alleged remarks particularly dangerous.

“Given the instigating and provocative nature of her statement, which intends to create disharmony and foster hatred and enmity among the masses of India, as she mentioned the name of Delhi in her statement as one of the states, I being a resident of Delhi respectfully request that an FIR be lodged under Sections 152, 192, 196, and 353 of the BNS against Mamata Banerjee. These offences are cognizable and serious in nature,” stated the complainant.

Mamata Remarks’ triggers row

The development came a day after Banerjee made a provocative statement during a Trinamool Chhatra Parishad event.

While condemning BJP’s 12-hour ‘Bengal Bandh’, Mamata called it an attempt to “defame” Bengal. She also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of using his party to create unrest in the state.

“Some people think this (agitation) is similar to the protests in Bangladesh. I love Bangladesh, they speak like us (Bengal). Our culture is also the same. However, Bangladesh is a different country,” Banerjee said, while referring to the student-led uprising in Bangladesh that led the ouster of Sheikh Hasina.

“Modi babu, you are trying to create unrest in Bengal through your people. But remember, if you burn Bengal, Assam, the North-East, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Delhi will also burn,” Banerjee added.

Banerjee’s remark drew BJP’s ire

Banerjee’s caution received backlash from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), intensifying their demand for her resignation stating that such “anti-national comments isn’t the voice of someone holding a constitutional position”. Union minister and Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar also wrote a complaint letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah against Mamata Banerjee for advocating violence in Kolkata on Wednesday.

“CM Mamata Banerjee during her address to the Student Wing of TMC today in Kolkata where she shamelessly incited gathering, declaring, ‘I never sought revenge, but now, do what needs to be done.’ This is nothing less than a blatant endorsement of revenge politics from the highest office in the state,” the letter written by Majumdar read.

Read more: ‘If Bengal Burns…Assam Will Too’: Mamata’s Warning Draws BJP Ire, Himanta Says ‘Don’t Try To Set India On Fire’

Assam chief minister Himanat Biswa Sarma also condemned his Bengal counterpart’s remarks and said, “Didi, how dare you threaten Assam? Don’t show us red eyes. Don’t even try to burn India with your politics of failure. It does not befit you to speak divisive language.”

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh was also fumed with Banerjee’s remark and demanded that she must publicly apologise to the Northeast and the rest of the nation for her remarks.

Banerjee clarifies her statement

Meanwhile, Banerjee clarified her recent remark on Thursday and said that she did not say a single word against the medical students or their movements.

Referring to her Wednesday’s speech, she said, “I detect a malicious disinformation campaign in some print, electronic and digital media which has been unleashed with reference to a speech that I made in our students’ programme yesterday. Let me most emphatically clarify that I have not uttered a single word against the (medical etc.) students or their movements. I totally support their movement.”

She clarified her stance, saying, “I have spoken against BJP. I have spoken against them because, with the support of the Government of India, they are threatening the democracy in our State and trying to create anarchy…I also clarify that the phrase (“phonsh kara”) that I had used in my speech yesterday is a quote from Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa Deva…My speech on that point was a direct allusion to the great Ramakrishnite saying.”