‘BJP brought people from outside’: Mamata in Assam polls a day after voting

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday claimed that the BJP brought in people from outside to contest the Assam elections as it was not confident of winning votes of the people of the northeastern state.

Addressing an election rally at Tintulia in North 24 Parganas district, she claimed that no organization in the country was neutral under the BJP government at the Center because “the saffron party has bought them all”.

“A train carrying 50,000 people was brought to Assam from Uttar Pradesh,” it claimed.

Elections to the 126-member Assam Assembly were held in a single phase on Thursday.

“Even the snake can be trusted, but not the BJP,” she added, as tensions escalate between the TMC and the BJP ahead of the two-phase Legislative Assembly elections in West Bengal.

The TMC chief alleged that the BJP was trying to use the same trick in West Bengal to bring in people from outside, which is why the officers were transferred.

The Election Commission transferred a large number of police officers and administrative staff in West Bengal soon after the election results were announced.

“People, money and drugs are being brought in, but our workers will fight and win,” she said.

Banerjee said 90,000 names were deleted from electoral rolls during the SIR exercise in West Bengal.

The TMC chief said that according to a press report, of the 90,000 names that were deleted, 60,000 names were of Hindus and 30,000 names were of Muslims.

The BJP should never be trusted, she said, alleging that in the NRC exercise in Assam, out of the 19,000 names crossed out, 13,000 were Hindus and 6,000 were Muslims.

Asking voters to consider her as the TMC’s candidate in all 294 seats in the state, Banerjee said: “If you want a Trinamool Congress government under my leadership, then I am the candidate in all the seats.”

The TMC chief claimed that the names of several people from Scheduled Castes were deleted from the rolls, while asserting that the names of voters in her constituency were also deleted.

The TMC chief said: “I am not worried. I have confidence in the people, and we will get all the remaining votes on the voters’ list.”

She claimed that the BJP government will impose restrictions on non-vegetarian food options for the people of West Bengal.

“People here eat according to their choice, but that is not the situation in BJP-ruled states,” she said.

She claimed that consumption of fish is not allowed in Bihar, which is why it is being exported to other states.

Alleging that migrant workers from West Bengal are suffering atrocities in BJP-ruled states, Banerjee said: “You (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) cannot protect the people of West Bengal in other states, but promise ‘Sonar Bangla’ in rallies.”

“You should dream of ‘Sonar Bangla’ only after ensuring security for the people of West Bengal in BJP-ruled states,” she said.