Mamata Banerjee is the only woman CM in India & working for women’s empowerment: Abhishek Banerjee

Mamata Banerjee is the only woman chief minister in India, and she is working for women’s empowerment in the state, Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee said on Saturday. He was addressing a public meeting in Kulpi in South 24 Parganas. The Trinamool Congress leader – Mamata Banerjee’s nephew – compared women’s freedom, safety and security in Bengal with those of other states, adding that it was not the same especially those ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Abhishek Banerjee referred to Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh’s comment on Friday in which he had said: “Bhagvan Ram was a king. Some believe he was an incarnation. And you will get to know his 14 ancestors. Will you get the same for Durga? Durga was worshipped by Ram. Even Gandhiji referred to Ram Rajya to harp on good governance.” The Trinamool called the remark “shocking”, adding how Durga could be questioned and disregarded. The party called the comment an “insult to all Hindus.” In a statement, the party said: “It is unthinkable. Devi Durga is our mother, strength, inspiration. Those who claim to protect and support Hinduism have insulted Devi Durga.”

On Saturday, Abhishek Banerjee said that this itself indicated that the BJP leaders showed no respect towards women. He said, “Dilip Ghosh says Maa Durga has no identity. Such is their treatment of women. Women are oppressed in BJP ruled states.”

The Trinamool MP called upon those who were involved in Hathras and Unnao rape cases to give appropriate answers. He challenged the BJP leaders to say “Jai Siya Ram” instead of “Jai Shree Ram”. “They do not respect women, and cannot place Sita before Ram, and so they cannot use the slogan Jai Siya Ram,” Abhishek Banerjee said.

Mamata Banerjee and her party leaders have been focusing on women’s empowerment in Bengal, stressing that women in villages can move around in confidence and are in charge of the health insurance scheme, the Swasthya Sathi card, that also offers benefits to the woman’s parents.

Abhishek Banerjee further said, “Here is a woman against whom scores of leaders from all over India, from the BJP all-India president to the Prime Minister, Home Minister, defence minister, cabinet ministers are camped in Bengal, saying, they will make a double engine government. The BJP has to use 500 engines to fight one Mamata Banerjee.” He said the Trinamool is here to stay for the next 50 years.