Kamal Ghorui
KOLKATA: Union minister Amit Shah appealed to Bengal’s tribal communities Saturday to “take revenge” through their votes for what he called insults to President Droupadi Murmu during her visit to the state last month, stepping up BJP’s outreach in tribal belts while promising a “son of soil” as CM if his party forms govt. “Murmu ji came to meet tribal community members in Bengal, and Mamata ji insulted her. I have come to appeal to every tribal brother and sister to avenge the insult. She cannot accept that a poor, tribal daughter has become the President,” Shah said at Chhatna in Bankura. Murmu’s visit was marred by controversy as TMC govt allegedly changed her scheduled venue for a Santhal conference, which lacked adequate arrangements, and CM Mamata skipped the event, sparking accusations of a protocol breach. Addressing rallies in Chhatna and Baghmundi in Purulia, districts with sizeable tribal populations, Shah accused TMC of dividing Santhals and Kurmis over 15 years and, along with Congress, neglecting tribal communities for decades. “Neither Mamata nor Congress ever elected a member of the tribal community as the President. Modi ji decided to make a Santhal sister the President,” he said. He also promised inclusion of Kurmali and Rajbanshi in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, flagged “love jihad” and alleged land grabs by “infiltrators”, and said BJP would evict illegal immigrants after assuming office. Targeting Mamata, Shah accused her of playing the “victim card”. “People are not going to vote for her this time,” he said. He attacked TMC over “corruption” and “syndicate raj”, alleging central funds were siphoned off and promising action to ensure justice for women facing atrocities.
