Bengal: Amit Shah Launches Aggressive Campaign For 2024 Lok Sabha Polls, Says Mamata Banerjee Government Will Fall By 2025

Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) 2024 Lok Sabha poll campaign for Bengal with a no-holds-barred attack on Mamata Banerjee and her government from Suri in Birbhum district on Friday (14 April). 

Shah appealed to the people of Bengal to ensure the BJP’s victory from at least 35 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in the state and bring back Narendra Modi to power.

“Once that happens, the Trinamool government will collapse by 2025,” he thundered.

“If Narendra Modi returns to power in Delhi, no one will dare to attack Ram Navami processions in Bengal,” the Union Home Minister said. 

Shah blamed Banerjee’s Muslim appeasement policies for the attacks on Ram Navami processions.

“Why should Ram Navami processions not come out unhindered in Bengal? Why should they be restricted? Because of the Trinamool’s appeasement, some people have gained the courage to attack Ram Navami processions. This will stop once Narendra Modi returns to power,” he said. 

Taking the Trinamool government to task for the dismal law and order situation in the state, Shah spoke about the recovery of huge amounts of explosives by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Birbhum.

He accused Banerjee of “spreading lawlessness” in Bengal. 

Shah termed the Banerjee government as “highly corrupt” and referred to the arrest of many functionaries of her party for their involvement in various scams. 

He said that the only way to defeat the ‘autocracy and corruption’ of the ‘Didi-Bhaipo’ (Mamata Banerjee-Abhishek Banerjee) combine was to vote for the BJP. 

“Jobs have been stolen from deserving candidates. Those who stole jobs and made money have been arrested, but they allege torture in custody. Whatever you (Mamata and Abhishek Banerjee) do, you will not be able to stop the BJP’s fight against your corruption. The BJP will not allow corruption in recruitments,” said Shah. 

“Didi does not work for the poor people of the state. Her only aim is to make her bhatija (Abhishek) the next chief minister of Bengal. Here, benefits of her social welfare schemes do not reach the poor. Crores of rupees are being found from the house of its leaders,” Shah said to thunderous applause from the large crowd gathered at the venue.

“The ED had to bring in two trucks to seize crores of rupees (from houses of Trinamool leaders). You tell me if crores of rupees are found from their homes, shouldn’t they be put in jail? Have some shame, TMC. It is poor people’s money. The fight against corruption will not stop,” Shah declared. 

He accused Banerjee of trying to claim credit for all centrally-sponsored schemes. “She (Banerjee) is putting her mugshots on bags of rice for the poor sent to Bengal by the Modi government,” he said. 

“BJP will not tolerate the Hitler-like rule of Mamata Banerjee. If you want the end of tyranny in Bengal, and if you want infiltration from the other side of the border to end, vote for the BJP. If you want to end cattle smuggling, vote for the BJP,” Shah said. 

Watch the Union Home Minister’s speech here.