West Bengal leader of the opposition Suvendu Adhikari on Friday urged External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to prevent Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s future foreign visits in her official capacity. In a letter to Jaishankar, Adhikari accused Banerjee of tarnishing India’s reputation on the international stage and embarrassing the country during her recent visit to the United Kingdom.
Adhikari also alleged that Banerjee’s remarks in London reflected an excessive admiration for the country’s colonial rulers, calling such statements “unthinkable” for a Bengali.
West Bengal LoP Suvendu Adhikari writes to EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar, requesting him not to allow future foreign visits of Mamata Banerjee in her capacity as Chief Minister of West Bengal. pic.twitter.com/Umfo2rYE4J
— ANI (@ANI) March 28, 2025
According to TOI, citing her speech at a business event in the UK, she said, “I love the UK because we have an emotional relation, historical relation… From the heritage point of view, ours and from yours also. 190 years, you ruled in India. You ruled Bengal… So we forget that? Always India remembers you, and Bengal also remembers you.”
Criticising her comments, Adhikari pointed out that Bengal played a key role in resisting British rule during the independence movement. He argued that glorifying the colonial past was akin to disregarding the sacrifices made by freedom fighters.
Banerjee Condemns Her Statement On India’s Economic Growth
Banerjee’s letter also condemns her remarks at Oxford University’s Kellogg College, where she turned up to “downplay” India’s economic growth. After a speaker underscored that India had surpassed the UK as the world’s fifth-largest economy, that has estimated to become the largest by 2060. But, Banerjee contradicted, saying, “I will differ that.”
Adhikari labelled her remark “simply treasonous” and an “embarrassment for all the people of Bengal and Indian.” He accused Banerjee had “deliberately tarnished the reputation of India on foreign land,” critising her for opposing the economic rise of the country.
The BJP leader also called on the Ministry of External Affairs to launch a “thorough investigation” into Mamata Banerjee’s remarks and to bar her from undertaking official foreign visits in the future.
He cited existing regulations that mandate approval from the Ministry of External Affairs for such trips and argued that her statements should be considered grounds for disqualification.
Banerjee’s UK visit was not without controversy, as she encountered protests at Kellogg College. Demonstrators held placards questioning her position on election-related violence in West Bengal and the RG Kar College case.
