(Image source from: Mamata dares Modi to apologize or face defamation})
The defiant Narendra Modi ventured into a territory where even the CPI(M), Maoists, and the fearless south Calcutta mosquito would dare to tread. He not only leapfrogged the Bengali lakhsman rekha called culture, but also put his foot into his mouth by condemning Mamata Banerjee's artistic skills as a means to mint moolah. Censuring Mamata Banerjee's art sales, he mocked that art is to Banerjee is, what in AAP's language, Adani is to Modi - a money minting machine.
Now, hell hath no fury like Mamata Banerjee scorned. So, at once, former quiz master and Mamata's aide de camp Derek O'Brien jumped to his lady's defence and slammed Modi by calling him the 'butcher of Gujarat'.
If you remember, just a year ago, Modi couldn't stop going gaga over Mamata. "Look at Mamata ji in West Bengal. She fights for her state, she took on the UPA for her state," the Gujarat leader gushed. But now, the equations have changed. Mamata and Modi have gone from being friends to the new political nemesis in the block.
Irked by Modi's remarks, the Trinamool Congress on Monday sought outright public apology from Narendra Modi, failing which it threatened to sue the BJP prime ministerial candidate.
At a press conference, presided by the TMC general secretary Mukul Roy, Rajya Sabha member Derek O'Brien and state finance minister Amit Mitra, the party claimed unconditional apology from Modi for wrongly alleging Mamata for selling one of her paintings for an astronomical sum of Rs 1.8 crore.
"Narendra Modi has alleged that a painting of Mamata Banerjee has been sold for Rs 1.8 crore. He has to either prove his allegation or seek an unconditional public apology. Otherwise, we will file a defamation case against him," Roy told the press conference.
Roy clarified that all the sale proceeds of paintings were either voluntarily donated to social organisations like Spastic Society, or spent towards the Bengali vernacular mouthpiece Jago Bangla.
On Sunday, Modi launched a personal attack on Manata Banarjee when he questioned the sale of her paintings during the Sreerampore rally.
"I genuinely respect all artists and painters. I knew Mamata di was a good artist. She used to sell her paintings at a price of Rs 2 lakh, Rs 4 lakh or Rs 8 lakh. But one of her paintings was sold at a price of Rs 1.8 crore. I want to know who bought that painting and why? What was the reason behind it?" Modi asked.
In retaliation, Mamata tweeted: "We do not need gyan on development from the architects from riots. If he comes to power, India will plunge into darkness."
The Trinamool Congress has already launched a written complaint with the Election Commission against the "unsubstantiated" claims of Modi which the part deems as a breach of the model code of conduct.
Mamata Banerjee's paintings are originally priced at Rs 1 lakh to Rs 3 lakh depending on their sizes. Her esteemed clientele include celebrity buyers like cricket administrator Jagmohan Dalmiya, businessman Rishi Agarwal, actors Ranjit Mullick and June Maliah.
Now the thing is unless Modi finds a way back to cajole Banerjee and get into her good books, the BJP might be left scraping the leftovers of the poll cauldron in Bengal.
AW: Suchorita Choudhury
