Women’s Day sparring by Trinamool, BJP in Bengal

Kolkata: The city witnessed intense sparring by the Trinamool Congress and the BJP on Women's Day.

Both the parties had hit the streets of Kolkata to celebrate International Women's Day Friday.

Trinamool supremo Mamata slammed the BJP-led central government for its failure on the security front while the BJP leaders claimed that in spite of having a woman chief minister in the state, crimes against women had increased in Bengal during TMC rule.

The TMC rally was led by TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee and while BJP women's wing president Locket Chatterjee and former IPS officer Bharati Ghosh led the saffron party's rally.

In a scratching attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the TMC supremo accused the 'chowkidaar' of stealing the country’s reserves and wondered how would he would ensure the security of the nation when the BJP-led central government could not even safeguard the Rafale files which were reportedly stolen.

Banerjee also stated that there had been a 260 per cent rise in terror attacks in Kashmir during the BJP-led NDA government.

“After the elections, the new government at the Centre will bring peace and stability in Kashmir. The BJP government has crossed its expiry date,” stated Banerjee.

Through this rally on International Women’s Day, Mamata Banerjee also kicked off TMC's campaign for the upcoming general elections.

“The Modi government has stolen all the reserves and money of this country and is using it to fund the party. Elections are nearing. The centre is busy showing off the missiles and playing war games. It is our promise to reinstate peace and harmony in the country,” Banerjee said at Dorina Crossing where the rally culminated.

On the other side, the saffron camp came down heavily at Mamata.

Locket Chatterjee said people of the state had elected a woman with an expectation that some positive changes will happen to the women of the state.

“After nearly eight years, despite the state having a woman chief minister, we see that trafficking of women is the highest in Bengal than in any other state. Almost every day women have been victims of the crimes,” said Chatterjee.

She also alleged that for 3-4 consecutive years, the state has topped the charts in number of rape cases.

Holding posters and placards, BJP women activists shouted slogans against the ruling Trinamool Congress government and the TMC supremo.

Former IPS officer Bharati Ghosh, who had recently joined BJP, said that before criticising the central government, Banerjee should set her own house in order.

“Mamata Banerjee is talking about lynching and attacks on dalits. My question is about the incidents of rape against women and the failure of the state police administration to file charge sheets on time. She should first set her own home in order and then point finger at others,” said Ghosh.

Meanwhile, the TMC supremo said she strongly condemns the atrocities on Dalits, tribals, women, minorities and farmers in the name of lynching.

“Bengal has highest respect for women. Trinamool Congress is the only party where 35 per cent of its elected members in Parliament are women. In the coming elections, we will make sure that more than 35 per cent of our candidates are women," added Banerjee.

Emphasising that her government is committed to the empowerment of women, the chief minister pointed out that the government recently launched ‘Swasthya Sathi’ health insurance smart cards for them.

“We have decided to issue these cards to a woman member of the family, recognising her as the head of the family,” Banerjee also tweeted.

BJP National Secretary Rahul Sinha presented mementos to the bereaved family members of CRPF trooper Bablu Santra, who was killed in Pulwama terror strike on February 14, and BSF Assistant Commandant Vinay Prasad, who was shot dead in sniper fire from across the border in Kashmir's Samba sector on January 15.

“I am happy and honoured to be able to come here. I am proud of my son,” Banamala Santra, the mother of Pulwama martyr from Howrah district said.

Prasad's mother and wife were also present.