KOLKATA, Apr 24: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday accused the Trinamool Congress of allowing a suspended party leader to build a mosque modelled on the Babri Masjid of Ayodhya in West Bengal, and asserted that the BJP would not allow its construction as long as one party worker is alive in the state.
Addressing back-to-back poll rallies, Shah also asserted that after the BJP comes to power in the state, those involved in cattle smuggling will be dealt so severely that their next three generations would not dare to engage in this.
He also mounted a sharp attack on the Mamata Banerjee government, alleging failure on governance, law and order and employment fronts, and said the upcoming assembly election is crucial for making Bengal free from terror, riots and infiltrators.
“For the last 550 years, first the Mughals, then the British, the Congress and Mamata didi resisted Ram Mandir (construction). And in 2019, after you voted for Modi and made him the PM, the temple was made,” Shah told the gathering at Uttarpara in Hooghly district.
The BJP leader hit out at Banerjee, also the TMC supremo, alleging that a former party MLA, Humayun Kabir, was allowed to initiate construction of a mosque modelled on the Babri Masjid in Murshidabad district.
Kabir, after being suspended from the Trinamool Congress, has formed a new outfit, Aam Janata Unnayan Party, which is contesting several seats in the assembly elections.
“Now, Mamata didi wants to construct a Babri Masjid with her aide Humayun Kabir. Didi, remember that till one BJP worker is alive in Bengal, we will not allow construction of Babri Masjid here,” Shah said.
The infiltrators who are taking away jobs and rations of the poor will be identified and jailed after May 5, he said, expressing confidence in the BJP’s victory in the state.
The Assembly poll results will be announced on May 4.
The BJP leader claimed that after a change in government, women would be able to move freely even at night without fear, and assured the people that all closed industries in the state would be reopened to generate employment.
Earlier, at another rally in Hingalganj in North 24 Parganas district, Shah asserted that those involved in cattle smuggling and political violence would face strict action if the BJP came to power.
“If cattle smugglers attempt such a crime after May 5, they will spend their entire lives in jail. Those involved in cattle smuggling will be punished so severely that their three generations will not dare to engage in it,” he said.
Shah said that those accused of attacking BJP workers would also be jailed after the party forms the government in the state.
Targeting the ruling dispensation, he claimed that “cut money” and what he termed as “bhaipo (nephew) tax” would come to an end after the change of government, alluding to TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, the nephew of the chief minister.
The Union minister announced that the BJP would provide Rs 5 lakh free healthcare cover to the poor if voted to power.
He also claimed that the TMC government had encouraged infiltration for electoral gains.
Shah told the crowd that the record voter turnout of nearly 93 per cent during the first phase of polling in Bengal on Thursday indicated the end of the TMC government.
“I tell you that Didi and her party will be whitewashed. In Bengal, BJP will form the next government,” Shah said.
He asked whether the people of Hingalganj, which falls under the Sunderbans, have received funds out of the Rs 1,000 crore which Prime Minister Narendra Modi had sent to West Bengal after cyclone Amphan in 2020.
“The entire money has been siphoned by TMC goons and the people of syndicates. We assure you that once the BJP is in power, we will seize every paisa from them and return it to the people,” he said.
“Once in power, the BJP will open files of those who tortured mothers and sisters of Sandeshkhali and put them in jail,” he said.
Shah also cautioned the “TMC’s goons”, asking them to stay indoors during the second phase of polling on April 29.
“If they are out, then after May 5, they will be hung upside down as steps to reform them,” the Union minister said.
He also urged people to vote without fear, as a large number of central forces were deployed by the Election Commission.
Shah alleged that the TMC failed to keep its promises for development and was involved in corruption.
“The corrupt leaders of Mamata didi have eaten up Rs 200 crore in exchange of providing jobs to 26,000 youths. We will seize the money from them and give it to the people,” he said.
Shah also promised railway connectivity between Hashnabad and Samserganj immediately after coming to power in Bengal.
“BJP has given tickets to the mother of the RG Kar hospital (rape-murder) victim and the woman who put up a brave face against the atrocities in Sandeshkhali. By sending them to the assembly, we will start our drive to end goondaraj in Bengal,” he said.
Shah said the upcoming election was crucial to “make Bengal free of terror, riots and infiltrators.”
Assuring economic revival, the Union Home Minister said all closed industries in the state would be reopened once the BJP comes to power, creating new employment opportunities.
Later in the evening, Shah led a colourful roadshow at Jagatdal in North 24 Parganas district. (PTI)
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