I’m not ‘weak, coward’ CM like Mamata, says Suvendu with warning to Humayun Kabir for hate speech

Rejinagar (WB), Jul 10 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday said he is not a "weak and coward" CM like Mamata Banerjee, and asserted that he will not tolerate reckless remarks from elected representatives that can potentially stoke communal tension. He was referring to Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) chief Humayun Kabir, an MLA who recently made certain "inflammatory" remarks. Speaking at a BJP rally ahead of the bypoll in Rejinagar in Murshidabad district, the schedule for which is yet to be announced, Adhikari called his predecessor and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee “weak and coward” and stated that his response to such “irresponsible acts” would be diametrically opposite. “Make no mistake, I am not a weak and coward chief minister like Mamata Banerjee. I will not tolerate reckless comments from elected representatives. I have asked the local MLA to choose his words carefully, keeping in mind the Constitution of the country,” the CM said. Alongside Nandigram, a seat that was vacated by Adhikari after he simultaneously won the prestigious Bhabanipur seat where he defeated the TMC chief, bye-elections are likely to take place in Rejinagar after it was given up by Kabir who also won the Nowda seat. “The bypolls in Reginagar will be held in the next 30 to 45 days. We will usher in development here, with whatever demands the voters here may have as against the Hindu-Muslim politics which has been practised for so long in this region,” Adhikari said. He alleged that people of the region have had to endure endless suffering since the previous TMC-led government allegedly stoked the fire of violence across Murshidabad in the name of protests against issues like CAA-NRC and Waqf Act. On June 29, while addressing the state assembly during the budget session, Adhikari lashed out at Kabir, accusing the Nowda MLA of making inflammatory statements to polarise voters for a bypoll the AJUP leader's son is likely to fight after he vacated the Rejinagar seat. "I will not allow you (Kabir) to make such reckless and unrestrained public statements ever again. I will not only make him withdraw his statements, but also ensure he thinks multiple times before making such remarks. I assure this House that this would be the last time he makes such comments in public," Adhikari had said, and added that “time has come to teach the Nowda MLA a lesson”. PTI SMY NN