BJP MP from West Tripura and former Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb on Monday launched a sharp political attack on the Trinamool Congress (TMC), accusing the party of hypocrisy and silence over the alleged persecution of Hindu minorities in Bangladesh. Deb said that while the Trinamool Congress often projects itself as a champion of minority rights, it has failed to speak out on the situation of Hindus in India’s immediate neighbourhood.
Addressing the issue, Deb said Bangladesh, which shares close geographical and cultural ties with West Bengal, is witnessing attacks on Hindu Bengalis. “Hindus are being targeted in broad daylight, their houses are being torched and people are being killed in public view. Yet Trinamool has maintained a conspicuous silence,” he alleged. He urged TMC leaders to stop what he called “political drama” in India and instead raise their voice for the protection of Bangladeshi Hindus.
Deb also criticised the law-and-order situation in West Bengal, claiming that people face difficulties in organising traditional religious festivals such as Durga Puja, Saraswati Puja and Jagadhatri Puja. He alleged incidents of idol vandalism by mobs and challenged West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to demonstrate genuine concern for Bengali Hindus by speaking up for their rights across the border in Bangladesh.
Taking a swipe at the internal functioning of the Trinamool Congress, Deb made an oblique reference to TMC General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee. He alleged that the party now operates like a company, with the “nephew” acting as CEO and all authority resting with the “supreme leader,” warning that TMC MPs should be worried about their own political relevance.
Deb further accused the Trinamool Congress of failing to honour Bengal’s great thinkers and reformers. He said icons like Swami Vivekananda, Rabindranath Tagore, Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Ramakrishna Paramhansa have not been adequately commemorated in the state. Drawing a comparison, he cited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiative to honour Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel with the world’s tallest statue, calling it a reflection of true respect for national icons.
