Kolkata: Bengal governor RN Ravi chose a Poila Baisakh programme in Lok Bhavan on Wednesday to urge the state’s youth to be a “part of change” and underline Bengal’s “decline” over the years, prompting CM Mamata Banerjee to hit back with a “laatsaheb” barb.“Our share in the national capital has gone down from 10.6% to just about 5%. The land of intellectual vibrancy… today our gross enrolment ratio in schools and colleges is way below the national average. In our country, we have more than 5.5 crore registered and functional MSMEs. What is our share? We have, as the data shows, just about 3 lakh registered MSMEs. Unfortunately, it is a sad situation,” Ravi said.“Why am I saying all these on a festive occasion? Poila Baisakh is a day of resolve. I urge my young friends from Bengal — resolve to be positive, resolve to be part of change. Hopelessness is not an alternative, we must restore the glory of Bengal.” In a post on X, he also spoke on the need “to build the Sonar Bangla of the dreams of our martyrs and freedom fighters.” Banerjee took up the issue at a campaign rally in North Dinajpur’s Islampur. “The ‘laatsaheb’ of Bengal, who lives in a palace, has insulted me by issuing a statement. On this New Year, he could have wished all of Bengal well. Instead, he did this.”Hitting out at the governor, Banerjee said: “After the administration came under your (Centre’s) control, violence is happening every day. The officials of the EC are to be blamed for this, not us. Earlier, there was no unrest.” While she did not spell it out, her ‘unrest’ remark was in reference to the Mothabari incident in which seven judicial officers were detained by protesters for nearly eight hours while the administration allegedly did nothing.“We no longer have control over law and order; it is with the Election Commission and the central authorities. They are threatening everyone. They are advising people to store Burnol and Boroline,” the CM said and then addressed the crowd, saying, “Will you promise to answer these threats through your votes? Make a resolve… dekhna hai zor kitna baazu-e-qatil mein hai.”
