Abhishek Banerjee, the general secretary of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and a Member of Parliament, criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday regarding its manifesto for the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections. He specifically questioned the BJP’s position on Bangladeshi infiltrators.
During a press briefing in Kolkata, Banerjee urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to clarify the status of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has received asylum from the BJP-led central government. “Why was shelter provided to Sheikh Hasina? Is she an infiltrator or an asylum seeker? Whose interests is the BJP protecting by giving her refuge?” he asked.
Banerjee also condemned the BJP for its inadequate response to violence against monks in Bangladesh, as well as the attack on Chinmay Prabhu. “Where was the Modi government when monks were being persecuted in Bangladesh? What was done when Chinmay Prabhu was assaulted?” he questioned.
In a pointed critique of Amit Shah, Banerjee remarked that the BJP leader continually repeats the same narrative regarding ‘ghuspetiyas’ (infiltrators). He also took aim at the BJP’s management of recent terrorist incidents, such as the attack in Pahalgam and a car explosion in Delhi. “If your responsibility is to secure the borders, how could these attacks occur?” he queried.
The TMC MP from Diamond Harbour dismissed the BJP’s pledge to provide Rs 3,000 monthly to women and unemployed youth, labeling it a “new jumla” designed to deceive the electorate in West Bengal. “They are attempting to mislead the people of Bengal,” he asserted.
He contrasted this with the Mamata Banerjee administration’s Lakshmir Bhandar initiative, which grants Rs 1,500 monthly to women. “Can any other state match this? We provide Rs 1,500 per month to every woman without conditions. Show me another state doing the same. If the BJP cannot ensure clean air, how can they promise financial assistance?” he challenged.
The BJP released its ‘Sankalp Patra’ on Friday, promising the Rs 3,000 monthly payment to women and unemployed youth, aimed at countering the TMC’s Lakshmir Bhandar and Yuba Sathi programs.
Banerjee claimed that the BJP aims to impose control over Bengal’s culture, culinary practices, and attire. He cited remarks from the Chief Minister of Assam, who stated that individuals speaking Bengali would face imprisonment.
“The BJP has admitted that they plan to oversee Bengal from Delhi and Gujarat. If they come to power, they will implement the United Civil Code within six months and dictate Bengal’s food culture, traditions, and clothing. They have already criticized the dietary preferences of Bengalis,” he stated.
Moreover, Banerjee noted that the Assam Chief Minister’s statement about imprisoning anyone speaking Bengali within BJP-led states demonstrates a disregard for Bengali identity. “Those who have previously spoken against Bengali culture have been rewarded by the BJP,” he concluded.
