Kolkata protests: Never uttered a word against students, their movement, says Mamata Banerjee

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday sought to clarify her statement on protesting doctors and said that she did not threaten junior doctors in her speech at the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad's Foundation Day rally on Wednesday, adding that her comments were misinterpreted by some people.

Taking to X, Banerjee said she was not against medical students. "Let me most emphatically clarify that I have not uttered a single word against the (medical etc) students or their movements. I totally support their movement. Their movement is genuine. I never threatened them, as some people are accusing me of doing. This allegation is completely false."

On Wednesday, Banerjee had urged the doctors to return to work promising that she will not take action against the junior doctors or file FIRs against them - a statement which some claimed was a veiled threat to them.


The CM further wrote, "I have spoken against BJP. I have spoken against them because, with the support of the government of India, they are threatening the democracy in our state and trying to create anarchy. With support from the Centre, they are trying to create lawlessness, and I have raised my voice against them."

Banerjee said she was referring to a popular parable by Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. "I also clarify that the phrase ("phonsh kara") that I had used in my speech yesterday is a quote from Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa Deva. The legendary saint had said that occasionally there is a need to raise one's voice. When there are crimes and criminal offences, a voice of protest has to be raised. My speech on that point was a direct allusion to the great Ramakrishnite saying," Banerjee said.