‘Bengal’s border is with Sri Lanka’ — BJP’s ‘geographer’ sarcasm over Mamata’s comment

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has once again stirred up a storm of controversy in state politics. While addressing a public meeting recently, she said, “Bengal’s border coincides with Sri Lanka.” As soon as the video of the Chief Minister’s comment went viral, the BJP seized upon it and a fierce sarcasm began on social media. When questioning Mamata’s statement, BJP leaders mocked her and called her a ‘geography expert’. According to them, it is very sad and shameful for a Chief Minister to make such a terrible geographical mistake.

According to the BJP, this comment proves how ignorant or oblivious the Chief Minister is about reality. The party spokesperson said, “In the south of Bengal is the Sundarbans, then the Bay of Bengal — and far away is Sri Lanka. Mamata Banerjee may have thought that crossing the water is the only way to reach the country!”

 BJP leaders and followers are circulating the video on social media. Some are jokingly writing, “According to Mamata, Sri Lanka is probably next to Kakdwip!” Some are saying, “This is why Bengali students are not getting jobs because the Chief Minister herself is indifferent to the quality of education.”

There has been no official response from the Trinamool Congress on this issue yet. However, party sources say that the Chief Minister may have made this comment due to carelessness in language. Mamata Banerjee may have meant that there is an opportunity for international shipping through the Bay of Bengal south of Bengal, and that maritime route also reaches Sri Lanka. But the political opponents got the opportunity because it was unclear in the statement.

This is not the first time, Mamata Banerjee has been criticized for factual errors in various statements before. Sometimes she mispronounced the name of a country, sometimes the wrong date or mentioned irrelevant historical information – the opposition has taken umbrage at these in the past.  However, this 'Sri Lanka-border' comment has practically created a new chapter of humor.

According to political analysts, no matter how much the opposition makes fun of Mamata's statement, it will not have a big impact on Mamata's popularity. Because her public base is mainly dependent on development-oriented programs. However, the BJP will use this incident as a tool to attack the Trinamool Congress on the failure of education policy, the quality of geography education, and administrative irresponsibility.

This incident once again showed how important not only policy-making is in politics, but also every word of the leaders' speech. A single wrong sentence can become the subject of political humor and harsh criticism.