You Can Insult Me, But Don’t Tarnish Bengal’s Image Abroad: Mamata Ahead of UK Visit

Kolkata- West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accused her political opponents of tarnishing the state’s image online ahead of her visit to the United Kingdom next week. While asserting that criticism is a democratic right, she condemned attempts to malign Bengal on international platforms.

“You can insult me, but don’t try to tarnish Bengal’s image abroad,” Banerjee said, claiming that certain groups were spreading negative narratives through WhatsApp and email. Without naming any party, she alleged that a campaign was underway to discredit Bengal, particularly targeting her upcoming engagements in the UK.

During the visit, Banerjee is scheduled to deliver a lecture at Oxford University and attend multiple business and government-to-government (G2G) meetings, including a programme at the Indian High Commission on March 24, a G2G event on March 26, and another at Oxford on March 27.

The BJP dismissed her allegations, accusing her of deflecting from pressing issues in Bengal. BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh claimed that the Chief Minister was attempting to shift blame, citing rising crime rates in Kolkata. “She is blaming others while the state faces serious challenges under her rule,” he said.