Addressing his first rally ahead of the Lok Sabha election in West Bengal, Shah came down heavily on the TMC government for its appeasement politics, failure to stop infiltration, and the recent attack on National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials in East Medinipur district’s Bhupatinagar.
“We have passed a CAA law in the country. Mamata Didi Bengal ke logon ko gumrah kar rahi hain (Mamata Didi is misleading the people). She is saying that if you apply then you will lose your citizenship. But Mamata Didi you don’t know that these people do not have citizenship. Today, I have come here to tell all refugees not to be scared to apply for citizenship under CAA as no case or proceedings will take place against anyone who applies. This is the Modi government’s law and no one can oppose this,” Shah said at a public meeting in the Balurghat Lok Sabha constituency in South Dinajpur district.
While addressing election rallies, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has claimed that once anyone applies for citizenship under CAA they will be branded as a foreigner.
The Union Home Minister said, “Mamata Didi can oppose [CAA] as long as she wishes. But we are committed to granting citizenship to Hindu, Buddhist, and Sikh refugees who have come here. This is our promise. I want to ask Mamata Didi what she would lose if these refugees got citizenship. On one hand, you lay the red carpet to welcome infiltrators and Rohingyas in Bengal and on the other, you are misleading the Hindu, Buddhist and Sikh refugees. Didi your politics will not work this time as Modi ji has notified CAA rules.”
Shah also slammed the TMC government for filing a case against NIA officials, investigating the 2022 Bhupatinagar blast case, after they were attacked by villagers — the second time in three months that central agency teams were targeted in the state. The NIA team was attacked after they detained two accused in connection with the Bhupatinagar blast case. Based on complaints lodged by the family members of the arrested, the state police lodged a First Information Report (FIR) against the NIA officials.
“A bomb blast took place in 2022 in Bhupatinagar which killed three people. Those who were behind the bomb blast must be put behind bars. When NIA conducted an investigation into this following a High Court order, Mamata Didi registered a case against them to protect those involved in the blast. Mamata Didi should be ashamed. But be assured, all those involved in the blast will be hanged upside down as the High Court has directed the NIA to probe the matter,” said Shah.
Continuing his attack, the Union Home Minister said Mamata Banerjee has been protecting the people responsible for atrocities on women in Sandeshkhali due to her appeasement politics.
“Despite being a woman chief minister, you are doing politics over the Sandeshkhali incident. Under your watch, TMC leaders carried out atrocities on women, and people attacked ED officials but you are protecting these people because of your appeasement politics. Women of Bengal have seen that you are standing by the offenders in Sandeshkhali. Who is protecting the culprits in Sandeshkhali? If you vote for the TMC then it would mean that these people will get a free hand in carrying out atrocities,” said Shah.
Shah also asked people to help the BJP win 30 seats from Bengal in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. “In 2014, people gave us 2 seats. In 2019, you gave us 18 seats which helped the BJP get over 300 in the country. Now in 2024, you have to increase the tally from 18 to 30 so that the BJP crosses 400 seats in the country,” said Shah.
“For a stronger India, you have to build a strong Bengal. But as long as infiltration continues, Bengal cannot be strong. Can Mamata Didi stop infiltration? She won’t do it as infiltrators are her vote bank. Only Narendra Modi and the BJP can stop this,” he added.
The BJP’s Sukanta Majumdar will contest against Biplab Mitra of the ruling Trinamool Congress in the Balurghat Lok Sabha constituency, where voting will take place on April 26. The counting of votes will be held on June 4.