Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday once again launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, alleging widespread “syndicate raj”, corruption and deteriorating law and order in election-bound West Bengal.
Since the first phase of elections will be held on April 23, Shah insisted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will not allow the construction of Babri Masjid in the state.
Addressing a public meeting in Dumdum North area of North 24 Parganas, Shah said, “Today the whole of Bengal is troubled by this syndicate. If you have to buy cement, you will have to pay money to the syndicate. If you have to buy bricks, you will have to pay money to the syndicate. If you have to buy sand, you will have to pay money to the syndicate. But people of Dumdum, remember my promise…After the 5th, the syndicate members Will leave Bengal and migrate.”
He further alleged that the industrial decline in the state was caused by the Trinamool Congress government, and said, “Because of Didi, industries have left the country, and because of BJP these gang goons will flee Bengal.”
Shah said, “Mamata Banerjee wants to build Babri Masjid in the name of Humayun Kabir. Don’t worry, I am saying this clearly: Mamata didi, no matter how hard you try, BJP will not allow Babri Masjid to be built in Bengal.”
Expressing concern over the safety of women, Shah said that the incidents in institutions like RG Kar Medical College, Durgapur Medical College and South Kolkata Law College reflect the poor law and order situation in the state.
“The daughters of Bengal have become completely unsafe under the Mamata government,” he said, adding that the chief minister’s comments on women’s movement at night were “shameful”.
Shah further said, “I promise that after May 5, when any little girl goes out on a scooter, she will not have to face the evil eyes of any goon.”
Promising a “new beginning” for the state, Shah said the BJP would work to realize the dream of “Sonar Bangla”, a vision rooted in Bengal’s cultural and political heritage. “After a long time, good governance is going to begin in Bengal… where mothers and sisters will have no fear,” he said.
Appealing to voters, Shah said, “We will work to free the mothers, sisters and daughters of Bengal from fear. On the 29th, you all will have to cast your vote… so that a Bengal free from infiltrators can be created.”
Targeting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Shah said that Congress will face its biggest defeat ever in the assembly elections.
He further said, “I want to tell Rahul Gandhi that in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, he will not even cross the two-digit mark. In West Bengal, he will not even be able to open his account, and in Assam, Congress will have to face its biggest defeat till date. Mamata didi, you are sitting with the same Congress. Your situation is also going to get worse.”
Campaigning for the first phase of assembly elections in West Bengal ended on Tuesday, with political parties kicking off their campaigning in 152 seats where voters will exercise their franchise on April 23.
Voting for the 294-member West Bengal Assembly will be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29. Counting of votes is to take place on May 4.
According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), the first phase includes 152 assembly constituencies, while the second phase includes 142 seats.
The state is going to see a high-voltage contest between the ruling Trinamool Congress, which is trying to come to power for the fourth consecutive time, and the BJP, which is aiming to form the government after a stellar performance in the last elections.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is aiming to come to power for the fourth consecutive term, while the BJP, which had won 77 seats in the last elections, is making a fresh effort to form the government in the state.