The controversy began after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally in Alipurduar, where he sharply criticised the West Bengal government without naming Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Mamata responded at a press conference with a personal jibe targeting Modi’s wife, saying:
“You are not every woman’s husband… why don’t you give sindoor to your Missus first?”
Realizing the comment was inappropriate, she apologized, blaming Modi for provoking her.
BJP’s Retaliation and Escalation
- BJP leaders, instead of accepting the apology, launched a coordinated retaliation targeting Mamata’s personal background.
- BJP state chief Sukanta Majumdar mocked her origins, calling out her upbringing in a slum. Opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari threatened to distribute excerpts from a controversial book about her personal life, which BJP workers distributed during protests.
Sindoor Incident in Hooghly
- The situation escalated dramatically when BJP women workers forcibly applied sindoor on female police officers trying to control their protest in Chinsurah, Hooghly district.
- This act was widely condemned, including by BJP’s own state members.
Criticism and Concerns
- Trinamool’s women’s wing chief Chandrima Bhattacharya condemned BJP’s tactics as patriarchal, misogynistic, and classist, warning against politicising symbols like sindoor.
- A formal complaint was filed against BJP leader Kaustav Bagchi over a social media post referencing the controversial book excerpts.
Larger Implications: Decline of Political Culture in Bengal
- Political analysts lament the increasing personal attacks and identity politics dominating Bengal’s political scene, raising concerns about the erosion of democratic norms and discourse.
- Subhamoy Maitra noted that although personal attacks have existed in past political rivalries, the current level of vitriol and public consumption of such attacks is unprecedented.
- Maitra emphasized that personal histories of both Modi and Mamata were well-known and accepted, making recent attacks a reflection of lowered political and societal standards.
- The current political climate reflects a shift toward spectacle and personal vilification, unlike the more respectful political eras of leaders like Rajiv Gandhi or Jyoti Basu.
Summary
This episode illustrates a deepening political toxicity in West Bengal, where political rivalry has slipped into personal vendettas and symbolic provocations, such as the misuse of sindoor. It highlights urgent questions about the health of political culture and democracy in the state and the growing appetite for sensationalism over substantive governance.
