Home Minister Amit Shah said on Tuesday that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee would pay a heavy price for opposing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the people of the state would make her a political refugee.
“Mamata will pay dearly for opposing the Citizenship Amendment Act. People will make her political refugee in the state,” Shah said. He was addressing virtual rally for Bangal election .
Shah added that the CAA was an important step to put a stop to appeasement politics. “People of Bengal should know this. It was a step to end the wrongs done for decades to refugees.”
Shah said he remembers how Mamata was furious when the CAA was implemented and had opposed the decision in the Parliament and on the streets.
“I have never seen such an angry person before. Mamata ji don’t you think people from the Matua and Namashudra community should get citizenship? If yes, then why you are so angry?” Shah asked.
Mounting an attack over the issue of trains for migrant workers, the home minister said: “Bengal has asked for the fewest trains, only 236 trains which have transported three lakh migrants. You (Mamata Banerjee) have called Shramik Special trains Corona Express. That will pave the way for your exit.”
Shah added that Banerjee was stalling Ayushman Bharat and other central schemes because she is wary of Narendra Modi’s increasing popularity in the state.
“I ask her why is she not allowing health benefits to reach the people of Bengal? There is a limit to such politics which comes at the cost of well being of people. All state leaders, including Kejriwal, have accepted the scheme, but Mamta has not,” Shah said.
“I assure people of Bengal that we will implement the scheme after we win the state elections,” the home minister said.
He remarked that he still remembers how opposition parties and leaders, including Rahul Gandhi criticised the Jan Dhan bank accounts. “It is through these accounts that 51 crore people have received direct financial benefits in the time of coronavirus pandemic,” Shah added.
Asking people of Bengal how political violence could become “the state’s identity”, he said that the chief minister should stop “resorting to violence.”
“Can Mamata stop change by resorting to violence? You try to stop us by stopping us on roads and refusing helicopters. Now we are addressing Bengal’s people through the virtual mode, how will you stop us?” Shah asked.
Accusing the state government of being “steeped in corruption”, Shah said that he has lost count of the number of corrupt activities the TMC government has been accused of.
Shah said that the BJP would realize Bengal’s dream of transforming into ‘Sonar Bangla’ (Golden Bengal). “BJP deserves one chance in Bengal. We will put an end to political violence, corruption, appeasement politics, unemployment and dynastic rule.”
Earlier, the BJP’s state unit had prepared a ‘nine-point agenda’ highlighting the nine major failures of the Mamata Banerjee government in the state which has been in power for nine years.
The BJP has launched a mega drive of virtual rallies from various parts of the country. Top Union Ministers will reach out to people through social media and digital platforms to highlight the achievements of the Narendra Modi government that completed its first year of second term on May 30.
