The Narendra Modi Government’s days are numbered as the people of India have made up their mind to throw it out in the 2019 polls, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Monday.
The Chief Minister, who is currently in Frankfurt for a business trip, told reporters how a “comeback for the BJP Government will be catastrophic for the country.” Calling the Modi Government “anti-people” to the core, Banerjee said the BJP came to power by peddling loads of promises but kept none.
Instead of the promised “acchhe din” they only gave distress, inflation and persecution of those who dared to raise their voice against them.
“This Government is insensitive towards people’s daily woes which can be proved by the hike in petroleum prices on a daily basis. Though the price of crude has gone down in the international market they are increasing prices of petrol, diesel, LPG.
They have slapped petroleum cess on nine occasion which is inhuman and cruel. This is not a people’s Government but a Government of the rich,” Banerjee said.
“Under this regime every protest is met by repression: that may come either through leveling of false charges, lynching or CBI and ED. Just because I had always been vocal against their anti-people policies they sent our leaders to jail on false charges,” she maintained adding the people had been watching their activities and “they are sure to be thrown out of power in 2019.”
On whether she saw the Opposition parties coming together to defeat the BJP, she said “everyone is fighting against the BJP in his or her own way. But I have told the Opposition leaders to first think of defeating the BJP.
“Different parties which are strong in different places should be allowed take on the BJP. The Opposition parties must stop the division of votes and unite to pull down this Government.”
The Modi Government had no original thoughts and only survived on aping the States. For instance she said, “they have stolen the Kanya Shree and other similar projects from us and have started their Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao programme. Look at what they spend on their scheme what we do.”
Alleging that absolute power had made the BJP arrogant she said, “they are not only arrogant but also vindictive. They will not allow democracy to operate in India. If they come for the second time India will be finished. So it is better to finish the BJP before they finish India.”
On the BJP’s target of 22 seats from Bengal she said “this is only their pipedream. Let them dream and when it will come to the reality they will get nothing. At present they have two seats. But let me tell you that when they come to power they will not be able to win even that two seats.”
Bengal was a culturally advanced, peaceful state which had witnessed the renaissance in real sense of the term, she maintained adding it would not be easy for the BJP to penetrate that ring of renaissance.