Amit Shah attack TMC, signals BJP’s push for power in Bengal

Union home minister Amit Shah on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamul Congress government, claiming that the earlier Left Front regime in West Bengal was “far better” than the present dispensation.

Addressing a massive conference of BJP leaders ~ from booth level to district level ~ across 28 Assembly constituencies in North Bengal, Mr Shah alleged that despite coming to power with the slogan “Maa, Mati, Manush,” the Trinamul government has failed on all three counts. “Women are not safe, land is not protected due to infiltration, and common people are living in fear and insecurity,” he said.

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Referring to the controversy over Vande Mataram, the home minister said he initially could not understand why the TMC opposed the national song in Parliament. “Later it became clear. When there was an initiative to celebrate 150 years of Vande Mataram, written by Bengal’s Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, the TMC opposed it because infiltrators do not like this song. Out of fear of losing its vote bank, the TMC is standing against it,” he alleged.

Mr Shah also accused the state of being “number one in corruption” in the country, claiming that West Bengal has been “ruined” due to rampant graft. Listing multiple corruption cases, he said 23 individuals, including ministers, have gone to jail. “Mamata Didi will prove she is against corruption only if she denies election tickets to these people,” he said, throwing a direct challenge to the Chief Minister.

He further claimed that the TMC chief would still give them tickets, warning that otherwise they could expose the involvement of her nephew in corruption.

Over 6,000 party leaders attended the conference. Observing the turnout, Mr Shah remarked that the TMC does not attract such crowds even at its rallies and public meetings. “After seeing today’s gathering, it appears Mamata Banerjee’s time is coming to an end. The farewell bell has already rung,” he said.

Accusing the Chief Minister of fomenting divisions, Mr Shah said she has created discord among Gorkhas, Adivasis, Kurmis, Rajbanshis and Bengalis. “There has been no overall development in the state. Instead, 609 industries have left West Bengal. The unity of Bengal has been destroyed,” he alleged.

Highlighting economic indicators, Mr Shah said Bengal’s per capita income, once ranked 22nd, has now slipped to the third position from the bottom, while GDP growth has fallen from 11 per cent to 5.6 per cent. “Give us one chance. A BJP government will rebuild Bengal’s dream of Sonar Bangla,” he said.

Referring to BJP founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee, he said the party has not yet come to power in his home state. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi does not have true peace today. The day West Bengal gets a BJP government, he will smile in peace,” Mr Shah added.

The home minister also accused the state government of allocating an inadequate budget to North Bengal, saying the region deserves at least 25 per cent of the total state budget. While the Centre has provided nearly Rs 10 lakh crore to West Bengal, he questioned where the money had gone, alleging it was siphoned off through syndicates and “cut money.”

On border security, Mr Shah claimed that despite repeated requests, the state government failed to acquire land or hand it over to the BSF for fencing along the India–Bangladesh border, allegedly to facilitate infiltration for electoral gains. He said that if the BJP comes to power, land will be handed over within 45 days. He also cited land issues as the reason for the delay in setting up AIIMS, promising swift progress under a BJP government, along with land rights for tea garden workers.

Calling Siliguri strategically vital as the gateway to the Northeast, Mr Shah alleged that attempts were being made to cut it off from the rest of India. “Indian land must be protected at any cost. A BJP government in West Bengal is imperative to safeguard the motherland,” he said.

“Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, informed me that a few seats in the region may be challenging, party workers must work with the resolve of winning all 28 Assembly seats,” Mr Shah said.