Mamata Banerjee has been accused of lying to PM Modi over the "if you burn" threat.

 A lawyer has lodged a formal complaint with the Delhi Police against the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, over remarks she made on Wednesday, claiming they were provocative and could incite unrest.

Mamata Banerjee has been accused of lying to PM Modi over the "if you burn" threat.

The complaint, submitted by Vineet Jindal, a practicing lawyer at the Supreme Court, focuses on a statement Banerjee delivered during a Trinamool Chhatra Parishad event. According to the complaint, Banerjee stated, "Remember, if Bengal burns, then Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Delhi will also burn."

Jindal argued that Banerjee's words were inflammatory and had the potential to incite regional hatred and enmity, posing a threat to national harmony and public order. He emphasized that as a chief minister, Banerjee’s statements hold considerable influence, making such remarks particularly perilous. 

"Considering the instigating and provocative nature of her statement, which seems intended to create discord and foster hatred and enmity among the people of India, especially since she mentioned Delhi as one of the states that would be affected, I, being a resident of Delhi, respectfully request that an FIR be registered under Sections 152, 192, 196, and 353 of the BNS against Mamata Banerjee. These are cognizable and serious offences," Jindal stated in his complaint.

Banerjee's Controversial Remarks

On Wednesday, Mamata Banerjee condemned the BJP's 12-hour 'Bengal Bandh,' calling it an attempt to "defame" the state of Bengal. She also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of using his party to create instability in the region.

She remarked, “Some people think this (agitation) is similar to the protests in Bangladesh. I love Bangladesh, they speak like us (Bengal). Our culture is also the same. However, Bangladesh is a different country,” referring to the student-led uprising in Bangladesh that led to the removal of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Banerjee added, “Modi babu, you are trying to create unrest in Bengal through your people. But remember, if you burn Bengal, Assam, the North-East, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Delhi will also burn.”

The Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, criticized Banerjee’s comments, accusing her of trying to spread unrest and divisive politics across India. 

“Didi, how dare you threaten Assam?” Sarma posted on X. “Don't show us red eyes. Don't try to set India on fire with your politics of failure. It does not suit you to speak divisive language,” he added.

Meanwhile, the BJP state president and Union Minister of State, Sukanta Majumdar, wrote a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, condemning Banerjee’s remarks as a “blatant endorsement of revenge politics from the highest office in the state.” Majumdar accused Banerjee of making anti-national statements by suggesting that unrest in Bengal could lead to chaos in other states.

"It is inconceivable and unprecedented for a chief minister, who is constitutionally obligated to rise above partisan views, to make such intimidating statements that threaten democracy," Majumdar said to reporters.