Congress Leader Takes A Swipe At Mamata Banerjee: ‘Can Go To Spain But…’

West Bengal Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has strongly criticized Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her recent trip to Spain, particularly amidst the rising cases of dengue in the state. Chowdhury accused Banerjee of being disconnected from the people’s suffering, stating, “We had already warned the state government about the rampant spread of dengue during August-September. This is due to the ignorance of the government towards the common people. They can go to Spain but cannot understand the pain of people here.”

He further questioned the luxury aspect of her trip, noting that Banerjee reportedly stayed in a high-end hotel in Madrid, which costs ₹3 lakhs per day. Chowdhury questioned how she could afford such extravagance when it is widely known that she does not take her salary and sustains herself through book sales and paintings.

Referring to her trip as a “luxury trip,” he inquired about the expenses incurred and criticized her for not utilizing those funds to address unemployment issues in Bengal or attract investments from Spanish companies.

Chowdhury also commented on the recent launch of Vande Bharat Express trains by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that the promise of bullet trains has been replaced by these trains, which do not operate at their maximum speed and have higher fares compared to regular trains.

Regarding Shantiniketan’s inclusion in the UNESCO Intangible Heritage List, he emphasized that Shantiniketan doesn’t need additional certification and that the environment for education in the region should be improved according to Rabindranath Tagore’s vision.

Chowdhury dismissed the recognition of Kiriteshwari village in Murshidabad as the Best Tourism Village of India by the Ministry of Culture, saying it has nothing except an ancient temple and accused the ruling party of practicing “temple politics.”

On the Women’s Reservation Bill recently passed in the Special Session of Parliament, he viewed it as a distraction tactic by the Modi government and criticized it for not addressing the pressing issues faced by the people.

Lastly, commenting on the Ramesh Bidhuri episode in the Lok Sabha, Chowdhury condemned the BJP’s behavior and accused them of insulting parliamentary culture, emphasizing that healthy debate should be encouraged rather than stifled.