Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday claimed that there is an “atmosphere of fear” in West Bengal, adding that incidents of murder, rape, riots and political violence have reached their peak under the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government.
“There is an atmosphere of fear in Bengal. Murders, rapes, riots and political violence have reached their peak. Everyone is very disturbed,” Modi said while interacting with BJP workers of Bangladesh as part of the ‘Mera Puth Sabsi Mazbut’ programme.
With less than 10 days left for the crucial two-phase Assembly elections, Modi asked the party cadre to “first prepare a list of crimes that have happened in your area and tell the people that the crimes happened because the criminals had the blessing of influential TMC leaders and their connection with the police.”
“Extract videos of heinous crimes like rape and murder of RG Kar, rape of Law College in Kasba, Sandeshkhali. Show the videos to people and remind them of the crimes. Show them videos in which women and girls can be seen crying… Tell the women how the BJP will ensure their safety,” said Lerina Dey, a BJP worker in Kasba area of south Kolkata. The Prime Minister interacted with at least five workers for more than an hour.
Reiterating the BJP’s charge of growing infiltration in the state, the Chief Minister claimed: “Infiltrators have destroyed Bengali culture and language. Nowadays you rarely hear pure Bengali. Infiltrators have changed the language. I would suggest making videos of the language our elders used to speak and make a second video of how Bengali has changed. Show them to people.” He also described the TMC regime as a “money-grabbing” government, alleging that the TMC leaders, who were accustomed to making money… $1000 – $2000, now living in luxury homes. “Extract old videos of corruption of TMC leaders and ministers on your mobile phone and show them to other passengers in buses and metro. Go door to door. Every child in Bengal knows about their corrupt practices…”
Trinamool responds
TMC spokesperson Arup Chakraborty responded, “When it comes to appointment of booth-level agents by political parties during SIR, the BJP could not find workers who can be appointed in every booth. They should first try to find workers in every booth. Later, they can strengthen the booths.”
Meanwhile, during a rally in Dakshin Dinajpur district, Union Home Minister Amit Shah promised that the BJP, if voted to power in Bengal, would resolve the Gorkha issue in Darjeeling Hills in a constitutional manner without dividing the state. “I want to tell my Gorkha brothers in Darjeeling that once it comes to power, the BJP will not only develop an eco-adventure center in the hills but will also resolve the Gorkha issue in a constitutional manner without dividing the state,” Shah said.
Mamata’s big claim on SIR
TMC chief Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday alleged that “logical contradiction” under the SIR exercise is not an officially recognized term under the Election Commission framework and has been selectively applied in West Bengal, unlike Bihar, to the benefit of the BJP.
“There is no officially recognized term like ‘paradox’ under the Election Commission. It is selectively applied in West Bengal, unlike Bihar, to the benefit of the BJP,” said Banerjee, who addressed public rallies in Pingla in Paschim Medinipur, Tamluk in Purba Medinipur, and Domjur in Howrah.
She also urged women to “stand firm” in the face of security forces. “The mission of the central forces is to maintain peace. We have no objection to that. But what if they prevent people from voting? I will ask the women to keep brooms in their hands and stand firm against those who wear shoes and carry weapons. I am not asking you to assault anyone or incite riots, but you must do everything to protect your rights.” “The Election Commission of India follows the Constitution. The logical inconsistency did not become an issue during the SIR period in other states because those governments do not harbor infiltrators,” said Debjit Sarkar, BJP’s official spokesperson in Bengal.
If Modi is corrupt, TMC is not far behind: Rahul
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday accused Prime Minister Modi and the ruling TMC in Bengal of corruption. “If Narendra Modi is corrupt, then TMC is also not behind in the race,” Rahul said at his first rally in the state, referring to the high-profile trust cases being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate. Several senior TMC leaders were arrested in these cases and were later released on bail.
Gandhi also launched a scathing attack on Modi over the India-US trade deal, saying: “For the first time, Narendra Modi has opened up the country’s agricultural sector to American farmers. They can sell their crops in India… If their produce is sold in India, all our farmers will be destroyed.”
BJP’s chief spokesperson in Bengal, Dabjit Sarkar, responded to Rahul, saying: “No one in West Bengal takes Rahul Gandhi’s words seriously. He has always provided comic relief.”
“We did not contest the elections in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Haryana. Why couldn’t Rahul Gandhi win those elections? He is a failure,” TMC state general secretary Kunal Ghosh said.
