'Today you are in power, so you are showing might': Mamata Banerjee slams BJP

"Today you (BJP) are in power, so you are showing might. Tomorrow, the same investigative agencies will target you," stated Banerjee addressing a press conference.

Bhattacharya is the latest heavywight TMC leader to be arrested after Partha Chatterjee and his aid Arpita Mukherjee in connection with the job scam.

Bhattacharya, who is an MLA from Nadia district and the ex-chairman of West Bengal Primary Education Board, was arrested around 1am on Wednesday after he reportedly refused to sign the arrest memo citing protection from arrest.

Targeting the BJP of 'appeasing to Hindus', Banerjee said: "Bengal is a land for all, not just for those whose mother tongue is Bengali. Bengal is loved by the Bihari community, the people of Gujarat, Punjabis, Jains, Muslims, those who follow the ISCKON lifestyle, people from the hills and all others.".

Banerjee said everything in her party is transparent.

"Trinamool Congress doesn’t believe in hiding things from the public. We are a transparent party and everything about us is in the open. We invite our friends from the media to all our events," she added.

Speaking on Durga Puja, Banerjee said: "This year’s Durga Puja began early, from October 1 itself, where the entire state administration, police, and people thanked UNESCO for including Durga Puja in its ‘Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity’."

"People in Bengal share an immense love for its language and for its culture. Post Durga Puja, we celebrated the Durga Puja Carnival across the state. In Kolkata alone, more than 100 Durga Puja clubs participated in a fantastic event, which stretched for almost six hours," she added.

"Not just puja’s, we celebrate all festivals with equal fervour. I say this always, and I am repeating it again, religion might be a personal affair, but festivals are for all," she said.

"This is the beauty of Bengal, where Durga Puja Carnival and Eid Prayers are held at the same venue — Red Road. We have to understand that we are all humans, and humanity trumps everything else," the Chief Minister added.

"In Nadia, our administration has provided over 700 acres of land to ISCKON. By 2024, a huge Chaitanya Mahaprabhu ISCKON town will be set up, " she stated.

"Our Sikh community is self-sufficient too, but whenever they ask for my help, I go out of my way to help them in exchange for their halwas, which I absolutely relish. "

"During the recently-concluded Durga Puja, Bengal generated business of over Rs 50,000 crore. The best part about this was that the lower strata of society benefitted the most

"Some people used Gandhiji’s face as Mahishasur. What should the punishment be for such people? I won’t decide this the public will decide their fate," she said.

"When this act came to my knowledge, our police acted immediately. I thank Kolkata Police for their prompt action. Since the festivities were on, I kept quiet as I didn’t want to make it an issue during the Puja, " she added.