Kamal Ghorui
File photo: Union home minister Amit Shah (Picture credit: IANS)
NEW DELHI: Union home minister Amit Shah on Saturday mounted a sharp offensive against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, alleging that her government has failed to protect women, people and land in the state, while allowing corruption and infiltration to flourish for electoral gains.Addressing a BJP Karyakarta Sammelan in North 24 Parganas’ Barrackpore, Shah said the slogan of “Maa, Maati, Manush”, under which Banerjee came to power, had “lost all meaning”, reported ANI.“In the state of Mamata Didi’s government, which came to power with the slogan ‘Maa, Mati, Manush’, today all three — Maa, Mati and Manush — are unsafe. Maa is insecure; there is no solid guarantee for women’s safety. Manush is troubled by Mamata’s syndicate, and Mati has been swallowed by infiltrators,” Shah said.
Law and order, infiltration a national security issue
The Home Minister accused the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government of providing shelter to infiltrators and deliberately weakening border security to protect its vote bank. Formation of a BJP government in West Bengal was crucial not just for the state but for national security, he said, as per PTI.“The way infiltration is taking place in West Bengal, it has become a security issue for the entire country. Even after court orders, the TMC government is not giving land to the BSF for border fencing because infiltrators are its vote bank,” Shah alleged.He further claimed that illegal migrants were being sent across the country using fake documents, with the state administration and police turning a blind eye.
‘Not an accident, but corruption’: Shah on Anandpur fire
Referring to the recent deadly fire at a momo factory warehouse in Kolkata’s Anandpur area, Shah alleged that the incident was “not an accident but the result of corruption” under the Mamata Banerjee government.“I want to begin by paying tribute to all the workers who lost their lives in the fire at the momo factory in the Anandpur warehouse. This fire was not an accident. The fire at the Anandpur warehouse was a result of the corruption of the Mamata Banerjee government,” he said.Earlier this week, a massive fire at the factory left several people dead and many unaccounted for. According to police, 21 samples have been sent for profiling, 27 people have been reported missing and three arrests have been made, with investigations continuing.Questioning the state administration, Shah asked why the factory owners had not yet been arrested. “Has the administration completely ceased to exist in Bengal?” he said, suggesting that their alleged proximity to the ruling party was shielding them.
Allegations of intimidation, corruption challenge
Shah also accused the TMC government of intimidating the Matua and Namashudra communities, urging them not to be afraid.“I have come to know that Mamata Banerjee is intimidating the Matua community and the Namashudra community in West Bengal. There is no need to be afraid. Mamata ji cannot touch your vote,” he said, according to ANI.On the issue of corruption, the home minister threw a direct challenge to the chief minister, asking her to deny tickets to leaders facing graft allegations in the upcoming Assembly elections.“Today, I challenge Mamata ji. If you have the courage and if you truly oppose corruption, then prove it by not giving tickets to these people. You will not be able to do it,” Shah said, alleging that corruption had been “institutionalised” in the state.
Vande Mataram row and election pitch
Shah also attacked the TMC over its opposition to a discussion on Vande Mataram in Parliament, accusing the party of appeasement politics. On the 150th anniversary of the national song, he said Mamata Banerjee was not opposing Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but Bengal’s identity and India’s pride.“By opposing Vande Mataram, Mamata Banerjee is not opposing Narendra Modi, but she is opposing the identity of Bengal and the pride of India,” he said, appealing to voters to “uproot” the TMC and establish a “government of patriots”.Drawing a parallel with the Ramayana, Shah predicted a decisive BJP victory. “When Lord Shri Ram built the Ram Setu, even Ravana thought he was invincible. Mamata ji, this time watch out. BJP’s vote share is going to be more than 50%, and our government will be formed with a massive majority,” he said.
BJP ramps up poll preparations
Shah is on a two-day visit to West Bengal as the BJP intensifies preparations for the Assembly elections due in a few months. He arrived in Kolkata on Friday night and addressed the workers’ meeting at Barrackpore on Saturday before flying to Bagdogra to attend an organisational meeting with party leaders from north Bengal.This is his second visit to the state within a month, underscoring the BJP’s focus on West Bengal as it seeks to dislodge the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government in the upcoming polls.
