'Will consider myself freedom fighter if sent to prison': Mamata Banerjee dares BJP

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today brought in scathing critiques against the BJP while addressing an event in the city organised on the occasion of Trinamool's student wing, alleging the saffron party of central institutions to break the TMC in Bengal.

"Agencies are being misused. They are sending notices to ministers. Gagging the media," said Mamata. She also said that the BJP is trying to coax supporters by displaying their power and threatening them of imprisonment if people do not support the party. "I am not afraid to go to jail," said Mamata Banerjee, "but I can never agree to BJP's fundamentalist practices."

The Chief Minister also indirectly criticised ex-TMC leader and current BJP stalwart Mukul Roy, saying, " [they have] a list of 107 MLAs. Out of them, I ask them to reveal the names of just seven. It's not easy. Bengal is my battleground, that is why they have targetted the state now, adding, "Today they have summoned my brother. Tomorrow it will be my turn. I am not afraid of going to prison, but they can never make me follow BJP's separatist politics."

In a firebrand statement, Banerjee said, "Aaj agar jail gayi toh sochungi, swadhinta sangram kar rahi hun" (If I am sent to jail today, I will consider myself a freedom fighter).

CM Mamata Banerjee also alleged the central government is being run through an autocratic rule. She said, "Are we heading towards presidential rule? With one party, one leader, and one election, it rather seems likely." The Chief Minister added that the media is being threatened and the names of historical places are being changed as and when required. She said that the current conditions of the country warrant being termed a 'super emergency'.

She amped her resolve to stay undaunted in the face of danger that the central administration supposedly posed against her. "You can’t scare us. People are talking about cut money. Why not talk about black money?" the Chief Minister said, adding, "Some retired officers have been posted as head of institutions. So much has happened regarding Kashmir. But they are not letting people enter Kashmir, and even being allowed to report from there."

Continuing her remarks on Kashmir and the central government's decision to abrogate Article 370 of the Indian constitution that granted autonomy to the state, she said, "Even today, Omar Abdullah, Farooq Abdullah, and Mehbooba Mufti have been kept in custody. We don’t know where they are. Our delegation had gone but was not allowed to meet them."

Earlier as well, the West Bengal Chief Minister had repeatedly critiqued the Modi government, alleging them of separatist ideologies and religious fundamentalism, adding that central legal and law enforcement authorities are being misused by the government for political gains. The 2019 General Elections were fought along these lines. The BJP had gained 18 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in the state. However, CM Mamata Banerjee would not go out without a fight, as evident by her undaunted spirit in today's address.