Hundreds of saffron-clad BJP workers raised “goli maaro…” slogans as they marched down close to the venue of a massive rally where Home Minister Amit Shah insisted that “come what may” Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) will not be taken back.
Scores of workers marched down the streets towards Shaheed Minar, the venue of the rally, repeatedly shouting “desh ke gaddaron ko … goli maaro …” (shoot country’s traitors dead)” even as a helpless police force stood a mute spectator in absence of appropriate orders.
On his arrival at the airport on Sunday, Shah faced protest by the Opposition parties whose cadres greeted him with “go back” slogans. Hundreds of protesters of the Left Front and Congress, holding black flags and anti-CAA posters, demonstrated outside gate number 1 of the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport.
Addressing a well-attended BJP rally, Shah attacked Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for misleading the people on the controversial Act. “It is a law to provide citizenship and not to take it away from any citizen. Mamata Didi is misleading the Muslim brothers and sisters that their citizenship will be taken away if this Act is implemented,” said Shah. Linking violent anti-CAA protests in Bengal and the Delhi riots that claimed 42 lives, Shah accused the Chief Minister for letting her State to burn for several days in the wake of the enactment of the CAA.
He said from today our workers will take part in “aar noy annyay” drive which will be a door-to-door outreach campaign to tell the people about our strong resolve that Bengal’s days of woes are coming to an end. Accusing the Chief Minister of “patronising” rioters who torched trains to oppose the controversial law in December last year, he said the Chief Minister instigated the violence and added “in spite of all her opposition the CAA cannot be stopped. It will not be taken back.”
Playing to the refugee gallery, Shah said lakhs of Hindus, particularly those from the Matua (SC) community who had to leave Bangladesh in the face of persecution will now get Indian citizenship. “Mamata Didi is trying to stall the effort of the Central Government to provide citizenship to the Matuas.
“I want to ask Mamata Didi — why are you hurting the interests of our refugees? You only care about infiltrators. Refugees are being misled and scared... Hindus who fled our neighbouring countries who were raped and threatened and killed... should they not get citizenship?” he asked.
Saying that the no one could stop the BJP from coming to power in Bengal in 2021, Shah said Mamata used to say that the BJP will not get single seat and it will even lose its deposit. But we got 18 out of 42 seats. Now I want to declare that the BJP will come to power in 2021 by getting absolute majority, he said.
He said from today our workers will take part in Aar noy Annyay drive which will be a door-to-door outreach campaign to tell the people about our strong resolve that Bengal’s days of woes are coming to an end…
“Aar noy (no more) tolabaji (extortion), Aar noy (no more) appeasement, Aar noy (no more) infiltration, Aar noy (no more) violence... this is the slogan that will change the Government of Bengal,” he said.
Launched along the lines of Trinamool Congress’ Didi ke bolo (tell it all to Didi) the BJP’s scheme will come with specific phone numbers.
Saying that the people of the State had given chances to CPI(M), TMC, Shah asked for “one chance for the BJP so that we can craft a golden Bengal for you.”
The State was “lagging behind in terms of development under Mamata Banerjee’s leadership and ‘Sonar Bangla’ cannot be formed under her watch,” said Shah.
Meanwhile, Left and the Congress leaders attacked the Chief Minister for allowing Shah to land in Kolkata saying “Mamata Banerjee has allowed a person whose hands are soaked in blood to land in Kolkata … and now we want her to arrest these people who raised the ‘goli maaro’ slogan or else the people of Bengal will understand that her anti-CAA and anti-communal campaign is nothing but a sham.
Though TMC MP and Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee immediately tweeted, saying Bengal is better off without bigotry and hatred that BJP is trying to spread, CPI(M) central committee member and Left Legislature Party Leader Sujan Chakrabarty said, “Mamata Banerjee had earlier said that she will not allow Shah to land in Kolkata. But we saw her gossiping with him at Bhubaneshwar. Now his men are raising communal slogans in Kolkata and still the police are keeping silent. As the Chief Minister and Home Minister we expect herto get these people arrested.”
Congress MLA Manoj Chakrabarty asked the Government to “immediately identify these people from the video footages and arrest them or else this communal germ will spread in Bengal and burn it.”