Kolkata godown fire tragedy no accident, TMC responsible: Union home minister Amit Shah
Times of India | 1 February 2026
KOLKATA/SILIGURI: The Nazirabad fire tragedy was not an accident but a result of Trinamool’s corruption, Union home minister Amit Shah alleged on Saturday during a workers’ meeting in Barrackpore. Later, speaking in Siliguri, Shah said if voted to office in Bengal, BJP would investigate each corruption case under Supreme Court’s supervision.
Alleging that “Trinamool’s men were involved in the incident”, the home minister claimed the factories did not have environmental clearance and were constructed on wetlands. “Had anyone closed the factory gate when people were shouting inside? After a BJP govt is formed here in April, we will find out the culprits and put them behind bars,” he said.
Shah also claimed CM Mamata Banerjee would have reacted differently if the fire victims were infiltrators. “She should be ashamed of playing vote-bank politics. When our party workers tried to protest, cops beat them up,” he said.
Questioning Trinamool’s links with the momo chain whose warehouse was one of the two gutted in Nazirabad killing at least 27, Shah said, “Why did this happen? Who had invested in the momo factory? I demand a proper investigation.”
Raking up the issue of dynasty politics, Shah said, “Mamata didi needs a cataract operation because she can’t see properly. She is blinded by her affection for her nephew.” Reeling off the names of 23 Trinamool netas with corruption charges against them, Shah in his Siliguri meeting challenged Banerjee to field them as candidates in the upcoming elections, adding, “I know she cannot do that because she is afraid of them turning witnesses against bhaipo (nephew Abhishek).”
Asserting that it was time to change the Trinamool govt in Bengal as a “fitting tribute” to Syama Prasad Mukherjee, Shah claimed BJP would win 50% of votes in the 2026 polls. “In 2019 we had 41% votes, in 2021 we had 38% and in 2024 we got 39% votes. It is time to go past 45%,” he told party workers.
The home minister also touched upon the issue of infiltration and claimed Bengal had not provided land to BSF to put up fences along the India-Bangladesh border. “Calcutta HC has now set a deadline of March 31, 2026 to complete the land handover process. I am sure the state govt will not hand over the land to BSF, but there is nothing to worry as a BJP CM will complete the work within 45 days of being sworn in,” he said.
Trying to allay the Matua community’s disenfranchisement fears during the SIR process, he claimed Matuas and Namashudras were being intimidated. “They should not be afraid. Mamata Banerjee cannot even touch their votes.” He also claimed Trinamool was engaging in divisive politics by pitting Bengalis against Gorkhas and Rajbanshis and Kudmis against adivasis, thus destroying Bengal’s unity.