‘Nirmam Sarkar’ vs ‘Snake’: TMC-BJP war of words intensifies as West Bengal heads for assembly polls
NEW DELHI: The war of words between the Trinamool Congress and the BJP intensified on Friday as West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee likened the saffron party to a snake, a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi dubbed the TMC government “nirmam” (cruel).“Even a snake can be trusted, but not the BJP. I am the candidate for TMC. Vote for TMC if you want to keep the state safe,” Banerjee said at an election rally in Tentulia, North 24 Parganas district.
‘Trainload of 50,000 brought to Assam’
The chief minister claimed that the BJP brought people from outside for the Assam elections as it was not confident of victory with the votes of the northeastern state’s residents.“A trainload of 50,000 people was brought to Assam from Uttar Pradesh,” she claimed. Elections to the 126-member Assam assembly were held in a single phase on Thursday.Banerjee alleged that the BJP was trying to use the same ploy in West Bengal to bring in people from outside, which is why officers were transferred. A large number of police and administrative officers were transferred in West Bengal by the Election Commission soon after the announcement of the polls.“People, money and drugs are being brought in, but our workers will fight it out and win,” she said.
‘Central agencies one-sided’
Banerjee further accused central agencies of being “one-sided,” alleging that no agency in the country was neutral under the BJP government at the Centre as “the saffron party has bought them all.”She pointed to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, under which she claimed names of 90 lakh people were removed from the state’s electoral rolls.The TMC chief said that as per a newspaper report, out of 90 lakh names deleted, 60 lakh are those of Hindus and 30 lakh of Muslims.She said the BJP should never be trusted, claiming that in the NRC exercise in Assam, out of 19 lakh names delisted, 13 lakh were Hindus and 6 lakh were Muslims.
‘I am the candidate in all 294 seats’
Asking the electorate to consider her as the TMC’s candidate in all 294 seats in the state, Banerjee said, “If you want a Trinamool Congress government under my leadership, then I am the candidate in all seats.”She claimed that the names of many Scheduled Caste persons have been deleted from the rolls, while maintaining that the names of electors have been deleted in her constituency as well.“I am not worried, I have faith in people; we will get all the remaining votes on the voter list,” she said.
‘Fish not allowed in Bihar’
Banerjee alleged that a BJP government would impose restrictions on non-vegetarian food choices of the people of West Bengal.“People here eat according to their choice, but such is not the situation in BJP-ruled states,” she said, claiming that fish is not allowed to be consumed in Bihar, which is why it is exported to other states.
Attack on PM Modi over migrant workers
Alleging that migrant workers from West Bengal suffer atrocities in BJP-ruled states, Banerjee said, “You (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) cannot protect West Bengal’s people in other states, but promise a ‘Sonar Bangla’ at rallies.”“You should dream of a ‘Sonar Bangla’ only after ensuring security for people of West Bengal in BJP-ruled states,” she said.
PM Modi’s ‘Nirmam Sarkar’ attack
Banerjee’s sharp remarks came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi targeted the ruling TMC at a rally in Purba Medinipur district.“While the entire country is progressing, the TMC’s ‘Nirmam Sarkar’ is steadily holding Bengal back. To usher in a Viksit Bengal, it is essential to remove the TMC’s ‘Nirmam Sarkar’,” Modi said.“I thank people for turning up in such large numbers despite the adverse weather. This indicates a storm in the making. The people of Bengal are ready for a regime change, signalling that the TMC’s exit from the state is inevitable,” he added.West Bengal will vote in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with counting scheduled for May 4. In the first phase, 152 assembly constituencies will vote, followed by the remaining 142 seats in the second and final phase.Banerjee and the TMC are aiming for a fourth consecutive term, having been in power since 2011. The BJP has emerged as the principal opposition party after securing a record tally of 77 seats in the 2021 assembly polls.
