Kolkata, May 30, 2025 – In a blazing display of defiance, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee unleashed a scathing critique of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during a press conference at the state secretariat, Nabanna, on Thursday, May 29, 2025. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo accused Modi of exploiting the anti-terror military operation codenamed “Operation Sindoor” for political mileage and lambasted the BJP’s provocative “Operation Bengal” rhetoric as an affront to the state’s dignity. In a bold move, Banerjee threw down the gauntlet, challenging the BJP to call for early assembly elections in West Bengal, asserting, “If they have the guts, go into elections tomorrow. We are ready, and Bengal is ready.”

The political temperature in West Bengal, already simmering with tensions ahead of the 2026 assembly elections, reached a boiling point following Modi’s rally in Alipurduar earlier that day. Addressing a spirited crowd, the Prime Minister launched a blistering attack on the TMC government, accusing it of fostering violence, corruption, and lawlessness. He labeled the Mamata-led regime a “nirmam sarkar” (cruel government), pointing to recent communal unrest in Murshidabad and Malda as evidence of its failures. Modi invoked the cultural symbolism of sindoor, referencing the traditional Bengali ritual of Sindoor Khela during Durga Puja, to underscore India’s resolve against terrorism following the April 22 Pahalgam attack. He declared, “Operation Sindoor is not yet over,” drawing a historical parallel to atrocities in East Pakistan during 1947–1971.

However, it was the remarks by Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar and Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari that ignited Banerjee’s ire. During the rally, Majumdar vowed to execute an “Operation Bengal” akin to Operation Sindoor, promising to “throw the TMC into the Bay of Bengal” in the upcoming elections. This provocative statement, made in Modi’s presence, was perceived by Banerjee as not only a political taunt but also an insult to Bengal’s women, equating the sacred cultural symbol of sindoor with a political weapon. “Coming to the state and talking about ‘Operation Bengal’ just like Operation Sindoor means… he (Modi) is comparing the dignity of Bengal’s women with terrorists,” Banerjee charged, her voice brimming with indignation. She added, “Sindoor is a mark of self-respect for women. Every woman has respect; they take sindoor from their husbands. The Prime Minister should respect women.”

Banerjee’s response was not just a defense of her state’s honor but a calculated counteroffensive. She accused Modi of playing a “political Holi” with Operation Sindoor, alleging that the operation’s name was deliberately chosen to attract political attention and polarize voters. “They gave the name Operation Sindoor to get political mileage,” she claimed, questioning the timing of Modi’s remarks when opposition leaders, including TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, were part of all-party delegations abroad, advocating India’s anti-terror stance post-Pahalgam attack. “Our representative Abhishek Banerjee is speaking every day against terrorism, and at that time, Mr. Modi, not as the PM but as the BJP president, is criticizing the government in Bengal, which is giving full support to the country,” she said, branding the BJP a “Jumla Party” known for “spreading lies” and “looting the country.”

The Chief Minister didn’t stop at rhetoric. She challenged Modi to a live television debate, daring him to bring his “teleprompter” to face her unscripted. “I challenge you, come sit with me on a live TV debate. Let’s see how you answer without a scripted speech,” she taunted, accusing the BJP of controlling media narratives and misrepresenting incidents from other states as Bengal’s to malign her government. Banerjee also refuted Modi’s allegations of corruption and lawlessness, asserting that her administration ensures swift justice, particularly in cases of rape and molestation, with capital punishment delivered within three months. She contrasted this with what she described as the BJP’s failures in governance, citing issues like paper leaks, the NEET scam, and unemployment under their rule.

The BJP, in turn, hit back fiercely. Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar called Banerjee’s remarks on Operation Sindoor an “indescribable insult” to the Indian Armed Forces, accusing her of echoing Pakistan’s narrative by questioning the operation’s motives. Amit Malviya, the BJP’s IT Cell chief, referenced a disturbing incident to bolster their case, claiming that two Hindu women from West Bengal were forced to recite the Kalma and witness their husbands’ murders because they wore sindoor. The BJP framed Banerjee’s criticism as a betrayal of the sacrifices made by India’s soldiers.

Banerjee, undeterred, turned the tables by highlighting the Centre’s failure to release Rs 1.75 lakh crore in dues owed to West Bengal under various schemes, including MGNREGA and Awas Yojana. “The Prime Minister should first clear those dues and then criticize us,” she demanded, accusing the BJP of vendetta politics. She also alleged that the communal violence in Murshidabad and Malda was orchestrated by the BJP to destabilize her government, a charge the BJP vehemently denied.

As the war of words escalated, Banerjee’s challenge for immediate elections resonated as a clarion call to her supporters. “Bengal will never get into the hands of BJP,” she declared, exuding confidence in her state’s loyalty to the TMC. The Chief Minister’s combative stance was a reminder of her reputation as a streetfighter politician, unafraid to take on the might of the central government. Her invocation of Bengal’s cultural pride and her defense of sindoor as a symbol of women’s dignity struck a chord with her base, framing the BJP’s “Operation Bengal” as an attack not just on her government but on the state’s identity.

With less than a year until the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections, the Alipurduar rally and Banerjee’s fiery rejoinder have set the stage for a high-stakes political showdown. Modi’s invocation of Operation Sindoor and the BJP’s aggressive posturing signal their intent to make inroads into TMC’s stronghold, while Banerjee’s unyielding defiance underscores her resolve to protect her turf. As posters and hoardings celebrating Operation Sindoor dot the streets of Bengal, and TMC counters with accusations of divisive politics, the battle lines are drawn. Whether the BJP’s “Operation Bengal” will materialize or Banerjee’s challenge for early polls will force a reckoning remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the fight for Bengal’s future has begun in earnest.