No need for 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas', we will support those who support us: Suvendu

Kolkata: West Bengal Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP on Wednesday called for an end to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s slogan of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, leaving the party stumped at its first congregation in the city after the Lok Sabha elections.

Adhikari said at the working committee conference of the state BJP: “I have talked about nationalist Muslims and all of you said, ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas.’ But I won't say it further. Instead, we will say: ‘Jo Hamare Saath, Hum Unke Saath. Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas bandh karo. (We are with those who are with us. Stop ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’). There is also no need for a minority morcha.”

Two Union ministers, Sukanta Majumdar, the state BJP chief, and Manoharlal Khattar, and some Central party leaders including Sunil Bansal and Mangal Pandey were present when Adhikari spoke.

In bid to shrug off the blame on him for the poll debacle here, Adhikari then pointed out, “There is a need for an in-depth analysis. But the place for this should be elsewhere, not in front of the media. I'm Leader of the Opposition. I'm not in charge of the organisation. You must have noticed that I did not make any comment before or after the LS polls so that our booth level workers and voters feel dejected.”

Strongly reacting to Adhikari’s observations, Majumdar said, “Our party does not support his statement. He was invited as a delegate here. He made some proposals. Now it is the prerogative of the state president and his team to accept or reject them. Our party already has a minority morcha nationally.”

Buckling under pressure, Adhikari later issued a clarification and said in a post on his X handle, “My statement is being taken out of context. I am clear that those who are Nationalists, stand for this Nation and Bengal, we should be with them. Those who don’t stand with us, work against the interest of Nation and Bengal, we need to expose them (sic).”

He added, “Also, like Mamata Banerjee, we shouldn’t divide people in majority and minority and see them as Indians. I embody in letter and spirit, Prime Minister’s call for Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas (sic).”