Reacting on the ongoing political crisis in Maharashtra, chief minister Mamata Banerjee today accused the BJP of trying to topple the Uddhav Thackeray government in an “unethical manner” by money power and central agencies and apprehended that it will topple other governments as well.

She also slammed the saffron party for hosting rebel Shiv Sena rebels in Assam at a time when the state was reeling under floods. “Why are you disturbing the Assam government when they are facing floods? Send them (the MLAs) to Bengal and we will extend good hospitality and take care of democracy as well,” Miss Banerjee said at a press conference in Nabanna.

Demanding justice for Thackeray, Miss Banerjee said, “What is happening in Maharashtra is shocking. I doubt if any democracy works in India. If a democratic government bulldozes democracy, then where is justice? We want justice for the people. We want justice for electoral mandate. We want justice for the Constitution. We want justice for Uddhav Thackeray.”

Miss Banerjee said that the BJP has deliberately chosen to “disturb” the Maharashtra government at a time when the presidential polls are approaching. “In the upcoming presidential elections, the BJP is falling short in terms of votes. Hence, they are picking and choosing which government to topple, so that they can get the votes needed to elect their nominee for the post of President. They are trying to topple the Maharashtra government in an unethical and unconstitutional manner. They are using money power to buy MLAs. After Maharashtra, they will topple other governments also,” Miss Banerjee said.

Miss Banerjee said that it was unfortunate that the BJP government at the Centre was “completely demolishing” the federal structure. “Democracy is being bulldozed by the BJP government. I feel very sad and it is an unfortunate fact that the federal structure of this country is being demolished by the BJP,” she said.

Condemning the alleged violence and booth capturing in Tripura, Miss Banerjee said, “We have seen in Tripura today how in the name of elections, they are busy rigging votes. And after the Bengal elections, these same people were crying for NHRC’s intervention. These stories need to be told to the public.”

Asserting that the BJP-led central government has compromised the Institutions of India, she said that the economic and political situation of the country was in the doldrums. The BJP might have the mafia and muscle power today, but one day they will be out of power, she added.

TMC protests outside Assam hotel hosting Maha MLAs

The Trinamul Congress workers, led by the party’s Assam unit president Ripun Bora on Thursday staged a protest outside the Radisson Blu hotel, where dissident Shiv Sena legislators along with their leader Eknath Shinde are staying.

The Trinamul Congress workers were protesting against Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for “concentrating on toppling the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra instead of focusing on the flood situation in the state”.

The protesters raised slogans like “stop horse-trading” and alleged Sarma’s involvement in it.

“Many people are not getting food and drinking water in the Cachar region of Assam… over 50 lakh people of Assam are suffering due to floods but instead of providing them relief, the chief minister is busy toppling the Maharashtra government,” Bora, a former Congress leader, said.

Police said the protests were held without prior permission. Later, the police detained the Trinamul Congress workers and leaders along with Bora.