TMC chief Mamata Banerjee on Saturday alleged that the BJP has fully deployed its machinery to defeat her party in the West Bengal Assembly elections, with almost the entire Union Cabinet and the chiefs of NDA-ruled states camped here.
Addressing an election rally in Uttarpara in Hooghly district, Banerjee accused the BJP of making false promises to migrant workers from West Bengal working outside the state.
“The BJP is desperate, with 50 helicopters flying in West Bengal almost as much as the entire Union Cabinet, from the Prime Minister to the Home Ministers, Railways and Defense Ministers, as well as the chiefs of the 19 NDA-ruled states camped in one state: West Bengal,” the Prime Minister said.
Banerjee urged people to compare this with just three helicopters being used by the TMC in the campaign across the state.
She said that all the noise, sound and fury of the BJP will end on May 4 when the poll results come out.
“Moreover, we see central forces wherever we go. They are bringing in armored vehicles that were not being used where they were actually needed,” Banerjee said.
She attacked Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement that the goons helped by the TMC will be hanged upside down after the results.
“As a federal minister and a responsible leader, you cannot utter such words. You are speaking the language of terrorism. I know no action will be taken against you. But I have asked our men to videotape his speech and submit it to the court,” the TMC said.
She said Shah should be in Manipur, where more than 260 people have lost their lives and thousands have been displaced by ethnic violence since May 2023, rather than here.
“But I am sure he will not go there out of fear,” Banerjee said, apparently referring to the BJP leader’s long stay in West Bengal during this election season.
Banerjee alleged that Shah held a meeting on Saturday morning with “a certain person from the central forces who has been sent to Nandigram to loot votes”.
Opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP is seeking re-election from Nandigram. Adhikari, who defeated Banerjee from there in 2021, is also contesting from her constituency, Bhabanipur in Kolkata, this time.
“They (the same person in the Central Force) have been instructed to slow down the voting process in Bhabanipur. I don’t care. They can’t do anything to me,” she said.
Claiming that 400 people from outside were brought to Bhabanipur, she said, “I will ask everyone to monitor every hotel and guest house to identify these people who are helping the BJP.”
Alleging that the BJP has no support base, the TMC asserted that the opposition party had hired agencies who brought people in trains to attend meetings.
“If 100 local people are present at a rally, there are 900 from abroad,” she said.
Banerjee claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi described Bengalis as Bangladeshis.
“For you, Punjabis are Khalistanis and Muslims are Pakistanis. Who gave you the right to disrespect the people of the country? What is your identity?” I asked.
She said, without going into details, “I know who committed murders there and they were given shelter here. I have remained silent since you asked me to. Don’t forget that.”
Taking a jibe at the Prime Minister, she said he went on a “scheduled” boat trip on the Hooghly River in Kolkata on Friday, which was arranged by the army.
“You said we are upset about you taking ‘jalmuri’, but we know that you prepared it at home and everything was written down as the camera was already set up at the Jhargram shop,” she alleged.
Regarding the return of migrant workers from outside Bengal to cast their votes in the first phase elections on Thursday, Banerjee alleged that they were forced to place their hands on their holy books according to their religions and asked them to promise that they will vote only for the BJP, after which they will get free travel tickets.
“However, they were slapped with a b $She claimed they were paid a $2,000 fine when they arrived at their destination.
Accusing the BJP of only conspiring to divide people, she said that these self-proclaimed Hindutva supporters had filed a case in court when the Jagannath Dham was built in Digha.
“Many temples have been demolished in Varanasi. Kali temple in Delhi has been demolished. They are destroying Hindu religion and showing fake love. Don’t trust them,” she said.
The Bangladeshi Prime Minister said that contrary to “false propaganda”, industries are progressing at a rapid pace in Singur and Dankuni.
“Six industrial corridors are coming. In the Diocha-Pachami coal project, 1,000 youth will be employed,” she said.
The TMC supremo said the BJP is talking about implementing the 7th Pay Commission if voted to power, but “we have already implemented it”.
She said that in the first phase of the 152-seat elections held on April 23, the TMC will win 100 seats. The return match is scheduled to be held on April 29.
