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Moitra made the remarks earlier in the day during a protest over the SIR issue at Dharmatala in Kolkata.
Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra. (PTI file photo)
The BJP on Sunday strongly criticised Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra after she claimed that those who do not support the TMC are not Bengalis and have no right to stay in the state”
Moitra made the remarks earlier in the day during a protest over the SIR issue at Dharmatala in Kolkata. Speaking at the site, she said that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is fighting the political battle on behalf of the people of Bengal.
“I am saying this to everyone that those who are not with TMC now, they are not Bengali’s , they don’t have the right to stay in Bengal because Mamata Didi is fighting this battle for the people of Bengal,” Moitra said.
VIDEO | TMC MP Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) says, “I am saying this to everyone that those who are not with TMC now, they are not Bengali’s , they don’t have the right to stay in Bengal because Mamata Didi is fighting this battle for the people of Bengal.”(Full video available… pic.twitter.com/GzxxHf5SSt
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 8, 2026
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In response, BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla condemned her statement in a video message, accusing the TMC of projecting a mindset of intolerance.
“TMC stands for Tanashahi, Mansikta and Culture, and Mahua Moitra’s statement reeks of the same Tanashahi mindset of Indira Gandhi,” Poonawalla said. “Indira Gandhi once said, “India is Indira, Indira is India.” Today, Mahua Moitra is saying, “TMC is Bengali, Bengali is TMC.’”
VIDEO | Delhi: BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on Mahua Moitra’s statement, says, “This is a kind of dictatorship being displayed by Mahua Moitra. Mahua Moitra says that if you are not in the TMC, you are not Bengali and you must leave Bengal. Once upon a time, during Indira… pic.twitter.com/frhsK34SYe— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 8, 2026
He added that her remarks reflect a “Hitler-esque mindset” and a style reminiscent of Indira Gandhi, which he said underpins attacks on the Honourable President of India and the Adivasi community.
“This is the mindset that also drives attacks on the Honourable President of India. They insult the tribal community, the Adivasi community, in the manner they have treated the President. They also attack people,” the BJP spokesperson remarked.
Poonawalla further alleged that TMC workers and so-called activists target those who do not support the party, citing post-election violence that has seen hundreds of people killed.
“If you are not with TMC, they will ensure that their workers or Jihadi activists target you. We have seen post-election violence and the killing of hundreds of people,” he noted.
West Bengal, India, India
March 08, 2026, 21:31 IST
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