CM Mamata accuses BJP of using outside voters in Assam

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday 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.

Addressing an election rally at Tentulia in North 24 Parganas district, she alleged that no agency in the country was neutral under the BJP Government at the Centre as “the saffron party has bought them all”. “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.

“Even a snake can be trusted, but not the BJP,” she added, as acrimony between the TMC and the BJP gained temperature ahead of the two-phase assembly polls in West Bengal.

The TMC chief 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.

Banerjee said 90 lakh names have been deleted from the electoral rolls during the SIR exercise in West Bengal.

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 that 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.

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.”

The TMC chief 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,” the TMC chief said.

She 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.

She claimed that fish is not allowed to be consumed in Bihar, which is why it is exported to other States.

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.

Addressing another public meeting at Gopalpur in North 24 Parganas district, Banerjee asserted that the BJP does not deliver on its poll promises, asking, “Has anyone got the promised Rs 15 lakh in their bank account?”

She further asked whether black money was weeded out as promised during demonetisation in 2016, claiming that the country’s people suffered in queues because of it.

The TMC chief reiterated her demand for the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, stating that if they were elected with votes based on the voter list of which special intensive revision (SIR) has been conducted, then they should also not remain in their posts.

Banerjee said that the country’s borders are guarded by paramilitary forces of the Centre, asking why the TMC dispensation was being blamed for infiltration from Bangladesh.

“If infiltration has occurred, then Amit Shah should resign, because we do not have the wherewithal to facilitate infiltration,” the chief minister said.

Asserting that West Bengal is not a “factory of infiltrators,” she said that the State is the shelter of humane people.

Banerjee maintained that people of all religions live in harmony in West Bengal, accusing the BJP of dividing people in the name of their faith.

Claiming that the BJP plans to conduct NRC (National Register of Citizens) in the future, she said that a TMC Government will not allow such an exercise to take place in the State.

“The BJP is greedy for winning West Bengal... I will protect the State from the executioners,” she said.

Claiming that she has always fought for the people, Banerjee said she will continue to do so as long as she lives.