Bengal polls: CM Mamata Banerjee rejects 'outsider' tag in Nandigram, hits back at Suvendu

Banerjee is pitted against her former confidante Suvendu Adhikari, who joined the BJP some time ago, in the high-profile seat

In a veiled attack at BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari who labelled Mamata Banerjee as an 'outsider' to Nandigram, the West Bengal Chief Minister on Tuesday took a sharp swipe at him saying that people from Gujarat are being called insiders. Without directly naming Adhikari, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo accused him and his associates of selling off their souls to 'outsiders from Gujarat'.

“I have heard that some people are calling me an outsider to Nandigram. This is rather amusing. I was born and brought in the neighbouring Birbhum district and I became an outsider to Nandigram and those coming from Gujarat are now insiders in Bengal,” said Mamata. She was addressing the TMC’s booth level workers at a meting in Nandigram.

Her comments come days after Adhikari called himself “bumiputra” (son of the soil) of Nandigram while trying to attack Mamata with the same “outsider” barb which she was using to corner the BJP.

Read: Will handsomely defeat 'outsider' Mamata in Nandigram: Suvendu

She further alleged that Adhikari was insulting the history of the land agitation of Nandigram by resorting to communal politics and said that the people of Nandigram will make “April Fools” out of the BJP on April 1, the day the constituency goes to polls.

“Some are bringing up the 70-30 ratio (of Hindu and Muslim population). They are insulting the history of land agitation at Nandigram where people from both communities played a key role. People will make April Fools out of the BJP on April 1 (when voting will take place in Nandigram in the second phase of the Assembly elections),” said Mamata .

She said that her move to contest from Nandigram was not a sudden decision but she had made up her mind to contest from either Nandigram or Singur. The two constituencies became the hotbeds for land agitation which catapulted Mamata to power in 2011.

Warning her detractors not to play the “Hindu card” with her, the TMC supremo said that she also was from a Hindu family.

“You (BJP) want to play the religion card with me? Well, lets play. Don’t try to use the Hindu card with me. I am also from a Hindu family,” said Mamata, adding her iconic "Khela hobe" chant to rouse her supporters.

The TMC supremo will face off against her once trusted lieutenant Adhikari, who joined the BJP, in Nandigram, in the Assembly elections. The eight-phase election for West Bengal will begin on March 27.

Accusing Adhikari of trying to incite communal passions, Banerjee said,"Those who have sold their souls to the outsiders are insulting the Nandigram land acquisition movement by playing the communal card."

"Some people are talking about 70:30 ratio (of Hindu- Muslim population). Those doing that are insulting the sacred Nandigram movement which people of both communities fought together. People of Nandigram will make BJP 'April fool' on April 1 when polling is held," she asserted.