Mamata hits at Centre over Pegasus row, says BJP bulldozed federal structure

The Bharatiya Janata Party has bulldozed federal structure. We should also plaster the Centre otherwise country will be destroyed, said West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during TMC Martyrs day's speech.

Kolkata: The keenly watched West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's speech on Trinamool Congress's Martyr's Day turned out to be a spotlight for her scathing remark against the Centre over Pegasus snooping row. Taking a jibe at the Bharatiya Janata Party, the CM said the BJP has bulldozed federal structure. We should also plaster the Centre otherwise country will be destroyed, she said.

Banerjee also urged the Supreme Court to take suo moto cognizance of the issue and added that the judiciary can save the country. She said, "Our phones are tapped. Pegasus is dangerous and ferocious. I cannot talk to anyone. You are paying too much money for spying. I have plastered my phone."

"Khela' will happen in all states until BJP is removed from the country. We will celebrate 'Khela Diwas' on August 16. We will give footballs to poor children. Today, our freedom is at stake. BJP has endangered our liberty. They do not trust their own ministers and misuse agencies," she added.

Reportedly, CM's speech has been planned as a national outreach programme after her assumption of office. Following a thumping victory against the BJP, giant screens were set up across the states' offices to telecast her speech. In a note of gratitude to her voters, she said, "We want to congratulate the people of the country and my state. We fought against money, muscle, mafia power and all agencies. Despite all odds, we won because people in Bengal voted for us and we received blessings from people in country, world."

Paying tribute to the 13 lives lost on the day, Banerjee took to Twitter and wrote, "My heartfelt tribute to the 13 innocent lives that were lost on this day in 1993. I urge all my brothers and sisters to join me today at 2 PM in a virtual meet to honour the brave souls. Our voices against those committing inhumane atrocities shall keep growing louder."

July 21 marks an important day for the TMC. In 1993, 13 people were killed by Bengal police in Kolkata on the same day. They were shot by police during a West Bengal Youth Congress's rally raising the demand for mandating vote ID cards as the sole document for polling. The movement led to Banerjee's stature as a street fighter.