Abhishek leaves CID office after 6.5 hours of questioning, makes stopover at Mamata’s residence
The party second-in command has been questioned for a marathon 31 hours over the last four days by the CID as well as the Enforcement Directorate.
Trinamool Congress (TMC) National General Secretary and MP Abhishek Banerjee on Friday launched a scathing attack on the Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, as he kicked off a statewide campaign ahead of the upcoming elections in West Bengal.
Addressing a public gathering, Banerjee issued a strong warning to the Chief Election Commissioner and the Union Home Minister. Referring to the CEC as “Vanish Kumar,” he said the TMC was prepared to take its protest to the national capital. “Be ready, ‘Vanish Kumar’ (CEC Gyanesh Kumar). TMC is ready, we are coming to Delhi. If one-third of the TMC workers and supporters go to Delhi. Gyanesh Kumar and Amit Shah will flow in water,” he said.
Advertisement
Hitting out at the BJP’s repeated allegations of infiltration, Banerjee accused the party of defaming West Bengal by branding it as a hub of Rohingyas and Bangladeshis.
Advertisement
“These people (BJP) defame Bengal by claiming that it is full of Rohingyas and Bangladeshis. When I asked Gyanesh Kumar how many Bangladeshis and Rohingyas were removed from the electoral rolls, he started pointing fingers at me. I told him, ‘Put your finger down – you are nominated and I am elected,” Banerjee said.
He added that while people were dying, the Election Commission expected political leaders to meet it “with flowers.” “This is TMC. This time I went to Delhi, next time Mamata Banerjee will go. Then what will you do? This election is not just to defeat them but to teach these ‘Bangla-Birodhi’ a lesson…” he said.
Hits out at BJP over ‘Golden Bengal’ claim, cites Indore deaths
Banerjee questioned Amit Shah’s recent remark about turning West Bengal into “Golden Bengal”, asking why BJP-ruled states had not achieved similar outcomes.
“A few days back, the Union Home Minister said that he will turn the state into Golden Bengal. Then why are Bihar, Tripura, and Assam not being turned into golden states?” he asked.
He also referred to reports of deaths linked to contaminated water in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh, saying, “11 people died after drinking toxic water in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh. The BJP, which cannot provide a fundamental need to people like drinking water, does not have any right to speak about people’s rights…”
Abhishek claims BJP trying to ‘curb rights’ through SIR
Targeting the BJP over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Banerjee alleged that the exercise was aimed at curbing the rights of voters in West Bengal.
“BJP wants to curb the rights of the people of Bengal through SIR. The people will show their power to them with a good ‘vidai’…,” he said.
Announcing the launch of a mega campaign from Baruipur, Banerjee said he would tour multiple districts, starting with Alipurduar. “Today I am starting this mega campaign for the upcoming election, from Baruipur… Tomorrow I will go to Alipurduar and will visit many districts continuously… I will fight with you on the ground as
Mamata Banerjee’s soldier,” he added.
Remarks on Bangladesh and BJP’s ‘Hindutva’
Banerjee also criticised BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari for praising the governance of Bangladesh’s Yunus government over West Bengal’s administration.
“Suvendu Adhikari said Yunus Govt running better government than Bengal government. You all know Dipu Das was murdered in Bangladesh, and this BJP leader is saying Yunus is running good governance over there. Is this BJP’s Hindutva? Those who insult Rabindranath Tagore and Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, will they save Bengal?” Banerjee said.
Advertisement
