Lucknow, January 21 — Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister Narendra Kashyap has sharply criticized West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, holding her appeasement politics responsible for the deteriorating law and order in the state. Speaking exclusively to IANS, Kashyap endorsed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent remarks made during his Malda rally, where he highlighted the perils of unchecked infiltration and minority appeasement.
Kashyap asserted that Mamata’s policies of sheltering infiltrators and prioritizing a specific community have eroded democratic institutions in West Bengal. ‘This brand of politics has not only weakened democracy but also inflicted severe hardships on ordinary citizens,’ he stated emphatically. The minister drew a direct line between these governance failures and the current unrest plaguing the region.
Turning his attention to the Samajwadi Party (SP), Kashyap reminded its leaders of past electoral misadventures in Uttar Pradesh. He pointed out failed experiments like coalition alliances and the infamous ‘two boys’ formula, all of which backfired spectacularly against the SP. ‘They know very well how these gimmicks crumbled,’ he added.
On the BMC elections and Uddhav Thackeray’s defeat, Kashyap remarked that Thackeray still fails to grasp the reasons behind his loss. He contrasted this with the era of Balasaheb Thackeray, under whom Shiv Sena stood as a bulwark for Hindu pride and protection. ‘Uddhav deviated from those core principles, and the people of Mumbai and Maharashtra responded by rejecting his party,’ Kashyap quipped.
Expressing deep concern over atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh, the minister criticized the Bangladeshi government’s indifference. ‘India has repeatedly urged them to protect minorities, especially Hindus who are facing murders and violence. We hope they act swiftly to ensure safety,’ he said.
Finally, responding to Congress leader Digvijaya Singh’s controversial statements, Kashyap defended the RSS as a patriotic organization dedicated to national service. He reminded Singh that India’s partition stemmed from the flawed policies of Jinnah, Nehru, and Congress, urging a more historically accurate perspective.