• Mamata Banerjee's 'poisonous snake' dig at BJP at Bengal rally

    National
    Mamata Banerjee's 'poisonous snake' dig at BJP at Bengal rally

    The leader of the Trinamool Congress referred to the BJP as a "jumla" (one who makes false promises) and charged that the party was "peddling lies" about the CAA.

    Digital Desk: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee took aim at the BJP, claiming that it was using paramilitary groups and central investigative agencies for political advantage. She accused the saffron party of transgressing the Model Code of Conduct. 

    Banerjee, during a rally in Cooch Behar on Thursday, claimed that the saffron party was the beneficiary of the efforts of two investigative agencies, the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). She asked the Election Commission to investigate this and guarantee that all political parties have an equal chance to compete.

    "The BJP is requesting that you re-enroll names for the Awas Yojna. Why are the names going to be re-enrolled? To put it off, they want more people to enroll. A snake that is toxic can be trusted. It is even allowed to be petted. However, you can never rely on the BJP. The nation is being destroyed by the BJP," she said. 

    In the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections starting on April 19, she declared that the Trinamool Congress will not submit to the "threat of probe agencies" and urged the women of Cooch Behar to lodge police complaints if "there were instances of BSF torturing locals."

    "The NIA, Income Tax, BSF, CISF, and Central Investigation Agency are all employed by the BJP. Since the saffron camp is being served by central agencies, we shall respectfully implore the Election Commission to guarantee fair and impartial elections. There is a Model Code of Conduct violation by the BJP," she stated. 

    It was her claim that the BJP "followed the principles of one nation, one party". 

    Banerjee remarked, seemingly addressing Union Minister Nisith Pramanik, "It is a matter of national shame that a person against whom there are several cases has been appointed as the minister of state for home affairs." Our party dismissed him. He now serves as the BJP's asset.

    The Trinamool Congress removed Pramanik, a former head of its youth wing, in 2018. Later on, he became a member of the BJP. 

    The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) would not be enacted in West Bengal, Banerjee reaffirmed on behalf of her government. She said that application for citizenship would be discouraged because the law would label the candidate as a foreigner. 

    The leader of the Trinamool Congress referred to the BJP as a "jumla" (one who makes false promises) and charged that the party was "peddling lies" about the CAA.

    "The CAA is a ruse to coerce lawful persons into become non-citizens. The National Register of Citizens (NRC) will be implemented after you (BJP) enact CAA. In West Bengal, we would not permit the CAA or the NRC. "If you apply, your status will be as foreigners," the woman stated. 

     Banerjee questioned the census department's member's appointment to the CAA committee, asking, "If they don't have any plans for the NRC going forward, why has this person been appointed? The head is the CAA, and the tail is the NRC." 

    Attacking Congress and CPI(M), two members of the opposition INDIA alliance, for "joining hands with the BJP" in West Bengal.

    "West Bengal does not have an INDIA bloc. I was instrumental in the creation of the Opposition bloc INDIA. I even came up with the alliance's moniker. However, in West Bengal, the Congress and the CPI(M) are employed by the the BJP. 

    If the BJP was to be defeated, Banerjee urged the public to abstain from voting for the Congress and the CPI(M). 

    "If you wish to fight the BJP, do not vote for the Congress and the CPI(M). Not a single vote was cast for the Congress, CPI(M), or the Indian Secular Front, a minority party that is their ally."

    "This ISF minority party is identical to AIMIM. They are trying to aid the BJP by dividing the votes of the minorities," she said.