Agartala, February 5: Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha on Wednesday launched a sharp political attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over her reported appearance in the Supreme Court as an advocate in connection with the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, dismissing the move as “nothing but a drama.”
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of official programmes in Unakoti district, Saha said he had never heard of Banerjee practising law and questioned the seriousness of her courtroom intervention.
“I have never heard that she practised law anywhere. Those associated with the legal profession can say better. Even if someone has an LL.B. degree, without practice, can they directly go and appear? I don’t have any idea,” he said.
“To me, it looks like a tamasha (drama), nothing else,” he added.
Referring to media reports about Banerjee appearing in a lawyer’s robe to argue her own plea, the Tripura Chief Minister in his address earlier took a swipe, saying, “Today I saw in the newspaper that she is a lawyer. When she became a lawyer, I am not aware. Wearing a coat she is going to the Supreme Court — where she practised is unknown to me.”
In a sarcastic remark, Saha said, “During elections sometimes her leg breaks, sometimes her hand breaks, and this time she wore the black coat and went to speak on SIR. Strange — all these actors and dramatists, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi is working to make the nation secure and developed.”
He also expressed confidence that the BJP would expand its footprint in West Bengal. “The NDA is capturing one state after another. This time BJP is going to come to power in West Bengal,” he claimed.
Banerjee, a trained advocate, reportedly became the first sitting Chief Minister to personally argue before the apex court after moving an interlocutory application seeking permission to present her submissions in person.
Saha made the comments after attending a series of development programmes in Unakoti district, where he laid the foundation stone for a bridge over the Manu River at Saidarpar in Fatikroy and inaugurated the newly constructed PM Shri Hajibari Class XII School building.
“While development remains the only agenda of the BJP-led “double-engine government,” Saha said, contrasting it with Opposition role what he termed “political theatrics.”
