Mamata Banerjee has conviction to take everyone together: Kolkata Archbishop

“Mamata Didi has always supported us and she does it for all communities. She is the one who expresses courage and speaks at critical moments. Her efforts to work for objectivity and idea of inclusiveness have always been appreciated,” Reverend Thomas D’Souza, archbishop of Calcutta, told ET on Sunday in an exclusive interaction. Following the cancellation of the programme at St. Stephen’s College in Delhi where West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was scheduled to address students on August 1, D’Souza said, “Even though, I do not know what happened in St. Stephen’s College and why the programme was called off, I can say that Mamata Banerjee is the leader of national stature who has the conviction to take all together along with her.”

Despite the cancellation of the programme, Banerjee will be in Delhi on a three-day trip. She is scheduled to address the Christian community in the city on Tuesday in a programme organised by Catholic Bishop’s Conference of India (CBCI). D’Souza is chairman of the CBCI office for education and culture and he will attend the programme. Banerjee will speak on a subject titled ‘Love Your Neighbour’. She is the chief guest in the programme.

Banerjee has recently supported the Missionaries of Charity, following the organisation’s name getting involved in an alleged child trafficking case in Jharkhand. She was the first politician who supported the organisation and accused the BJP of making “malicious attempts to malign the name of Missionaries of Charity”, after two staff members of its shelter home Nirmal Hriday, in Ranchi, were arrested allegedly for selling babies.


“She supported us at critical moments. She is the one who stood with Missionaries of Charity when the organisation was passing through a tough time. In the country, I suppose there are two sides, projecting one force against another. But Mamata didi is the one who takes the side of truth with objectivity,” D’Souza added.

There are instances of archbishops of places writing open letters and commenting on the present situation in the country. D’Souza was never seen speaking against anybody and any political party. However, when asked on the situation, he said, “We are seeing incidents of lynching and intimidation are taking place. I do not want to take names of any political party or comment on any individual. I would only like to say that the rule of law and the Constitution of the country should be upheld. Any attempt to polarize and divide people should be discouraged and condemned. Anything that takes away somebody’s freedom to live life should never be allowed to continue with.”

“About Bengal, I can say, it has always been a state where communal harmony prevailed. People of all communities lived here peacefully. Now there are reports of forces trying to disturb that balance, but these forces should be discouraged,” he added.

When asked to comment on the PM face in the general election, he said, “It depends on individual’s choices and I cannot comment on that. But Mamata Banerjee is a leader of national stature who is tolerant and inclusive by nature.”