West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday strongly criticised the opposition for spreading false information about her upcoming foreign visit. She accused them of trying to damage both her reputation and the dignity of Bengal.
Speaking at Nabanna, the state secretariat, Mamata said, "Disrespect me if you want, but do not insult Mother Bengal. When I travel abroad, I represent India, and insulting me is like disrespecting the country itself."
She alleged that opposition members had sent defamatory emails about her trip to foreign officials in an attempt to create a negative image of her government.
"We have received emails from the opposition trying to malign us. They call us bad, but they should remember that many of us have global connections. We could retaliate in the same way, but we don’t, because we prioritise the honor of the nation," she added.
Mamata warned that those attempting to defame her would face consequences. She pointed out that Bengal also has allies abroad, and such actions could backfire on those who are trying to tarnish her image.
"Do they think we don’t have friends in foreign countries? If we wanted, we could respond in a similar manner. But we will not bring dishonor to Bengal," she asserted.
She also recalled how a similar smear campaign was carried out against her during her 2015 visit to Singapore. She noted that people had given a fitting response to such propaganda through the 2016 elections.
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"The opposition—including the Left, ultra-Left, and communal forces—is once again trying to do the same ahead of the 2026 assembly elections. But the people of Bengal will give them an answer," she said.
Banerjee dismissed opposition claims that her foreign trip was unauthorised. She clarified that she had obtained all necessary approvals from the central government. "For all my previous foreign visits, I have had the required clearances. This time too, everything is in order," she stated.
She also responded to reports that protests might be held against her abroad. "If they want to protest against me on foreign soil, let them. I welcome it. In fact, it will give me even more publicity," she said, adding that jealousy has no cure and that people will eventually respond to such actions. "The people of Bengal have answered them before, and they will do so again," she remarked.
When asked about political developments in Maharashtra and comments by leaders such as Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar, Mamata Banerjee said that each leader has their own stance.
However, she made it clear that her party has always opposed communal violence. "Even when we were in the opposition, we never supported communal violence. India is a country where people of all backgrounds live together in unity, despite differences," she concluded.
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