Shah: Didi Opposed Operation Sindoor for Vote Bank

Union home minister Amit Shah launched a scathing attack on the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government on Sunday, accusing it of promoting religious appeasement, infiltration and lawlessness, adding that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will trounce the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in the 2026 assembly polls.

- Joydeep Thakur

Addressing an organisational meeting of the party's state unit in Kolkata, Shah said Banerjee opposed Operation Sindoor — India's military response to the April 22 Pahalgam attack — to placate her "Muslim vote bank".

"To appease the Muslim vote bank, Mamata Didi opposed Operation Sindoor. She has insulted the mothers and sisters of this country. Pakistan-backed terrorists killed our citizens in front of their families after asking about their religion. Operation Sindoor was carried out to punish terrorists. However, Mamata Didi was pained over the death of terrorists," he said.

The CM had accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP of using India's military action to gain political mileage.

The TMC rejected Shah's allegations and said that the party has extended full support to the armed forces and the government of India in the fight against terrorism.

Shah's remarks came days after the PM launched an all-out attack on the Bengal government during a visit to the state, accusing it of promoting riots and corruption. In his address, the home minister called the recent Murshidabad violence "state-sponsored" and said TMC leaders fanned the unrest.