Mamata vows full support to Centre in fight against terror

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee supports Union government in fight against terrorism, urges correct reporting and disaster management preparedness.

Hours after Operation Sindoor where Indian armed forces targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (Pok) in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday expressed support to the Union government and said that she will fight terrorism shoulder to shoulder with the Centre.

“We are together in the war on terror, there shouldn’t be differences among us,” the Chief Minister said, addressing a press conference at the State Secretariat. Ms. Banerjee also attended a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, where Chief Ministers of bordering States were present.

Ms. Banerjee assured the people that there was nothing to panic about and urged the media to report the facts correctly, ensuring that no misinformation was circulated. The Chief Minister said that a disaster management cell would be functional both in Kolkata and the North Bengal secretariat at Uttar Kanya.

She suggested that private schools declare holidays from May 9. “My appeal to the schools is to declare vacation now, from the day of Rabindra Jayanti (May 9), i.e. seven days ahead of the scheduled date, given the present situation,” the Chief Minister said, adding that State-run schools have already declared holidays.

Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee also hailed the country’s armed forces for their “unmatched bravery and extraordinary valour” and said sources of terror should be eliminated.

The Diamond Harbour MP also uploaded on social media a photograph of Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri holding a press briefing along with Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Colonel Sofiya Qureshi on the operation, and said this “powerful image reaffirms India’s unity in the face of external attempts to divide us”.

Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari said it was a day of “immense satisfaction”. Mr. Adhikari credited the Indian armed forces and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the strike against terrorist camps in Pakistan and PoK.