Addressing mediapersons outside Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, Thakur said, “What does not happen in the whole country, happens in West Bengal.”
Training his guns at the Trinamool Congress government over corruption charges, the Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports said, “Law and order has collapsed in West Bengal. A cut money (illegal commission) government is functioning here. They have looted money which was sent (by the Centre) for the welfare of the people under various schemes.”
He added, “Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has no control over her party MPs and MLAs. Has she given them a free-hand to indulge in corruption?”
Referring to the recent attack on Enforcement Directorate officers in Sandeshkhali during a search operation at the residence of TMC leader Sheikh Shajahan, Thakur said, “ED officers are being attacked when they are going to investigate those who are knee-deep in corruption. The state government is protecting such corrupt leaders.”
He added, “Who is giving protection to these people? Where is he (Shahjahan) hiding? Who is shielding him? This is not the only example. Earlier, the Chief Minister had staged a dharna to protect a police officer (former Kolkata Police chief Rajeev Kumar) against whom corruption charges were made. Instead of arresting those involved in corruption, the TMC government is giving them shelter. Law and order has taken a backseat here.”
On a viral video purportedly showing a group of sadhus being thrashed by a mob in Purulia district, Thakur said, “Appeasement politics has created such an environment here. A curfew-like situation was created in West Bengal and Hindus were not allowed to celebrate when the Bhoomi Pujan of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya was being conducted (in 2020). Now, when sadhus are being beaten up, the state government is remaining silent. The question is why are there such anti-Hindu sentiments?”
Twelve persons have been arrested in connection with the January 11 incident in which three Gangasagar-bound sadhus were beaten up by local residents in Purulia district in suspicion of them being kidnappers.
Reacting to Thakur’s allegations, TMC state vice-president Jay Prakash Majumdar said, “These are politically motivated statements. He must first answer why loans worth Rs 10 lakh crore of businessmen close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi were written off in the last ten years. They themselves have set an example of indulging in never-ending loot of public money. How were they (corrupt businessmen) allowed to flee the country?”
Majumdar added, “Here in West Bengal, the CBI and the ED are being used for political reasons. That’s why a section of people is revolting against them. How is Leader of Opposition in state Assembly Suvendu Adhikari moving around freely without any CBI probe against him despite his role in the Narada sting operation?”
Anurag Thakur on INDIA bloc
The Union Minister, who is visiting Kolkata to attend an event of an entrepreneurs association, also targeted the opposition-led INDIA bloc saying there is no understanding and coordination among its partners.
“What kind of an alliance is this? One leader does not talk to the other about the alliance. In West Bengal, Chowdhury saheb (Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury) says one thing while Mamata didi says something else. They neither have any understanding nor any coordination. They neither have any leader nor any principle. They only have bad intentions which was evident from day one,” he said.
Thakur added, “This alliance of arrogance has no takers. In Uttar Pradesh, the politics of ‘Bua and Babua (Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav)’ did not last long. Here there is a conflict between the camps led by Bua and Babua (Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee) on who will have a final say. Leaders of both camps are in a tussle over this. It is clear that there is no unity among Bua and Babua and the other parties of the alliance.”
West Bengal Pradesh Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, meanwhile, slammed the Union Minister for his comments. He said, “If there is no existence of the INDIA alliance outside West Bengal, then why is the BJP so concerned about it? If the alliance has no importance, then why are they so worried? The INDIA bloc is like a cricket team. When one member gets out, another member takes the team towards victory,” said Chowdhury.
The Trinamool Congress too criticised the Union Minister for his comments on the INDIA bloc alliance. TMC spokesperson Arup Chakraborty said, “Wherever a meeting of the alliance takes place, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee sits alongside Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. Those who are against the BJP and its policies are united under this alliance. There are some disagreements at the local level which are being sorted out. The BJP government must focus on why the country’s position has plunged in the global hunger index.”