'BJP can't win polls by conducting riots, playing communal card'

Kharagpur: In a scathing attack on BJP, Trinamool Youth Congress president Abhishek Banerjee said the party cannot win the Lok Sabha elections by conducting riots, playing the communal card or highlighting fake nationalism.

He was addressing a mammoth rally here on Tuesday afternoon. "BJP is trying to win the elections by conducting riots or by using fake nationalism. Bengal has a different culture and no one can gain anything here by playing the communal card," he said.

Banerjee alleged that the BJP leaders who are coming for election campaigns are all harping on the communal agenda to divide the Hindu and Muslim communities. "BJP sells Hinduism to win elections and with this in mind, spreads hatred against the Muslims. This is most unfortunate. Religion is private and in social life our only philosophy is to serve the people," he added.

Banerjee said the 2019 Lok Sabha election is "not a fight between Trinamool and BJP. It is a fight between Bengal's rich tradition and culture on one side and the Centre's extortion on the other."

He alleged that BJP has looted the country in the past five years. "You will not hear a single word from them on note ban which was implemented to stop black money and terrorism. BJP does not say anything on the hasty implementation of GST either, along with farmer suicides and why 2 crore people lost their jobs. They only talk on religion to incite one community against the other," the Trinamool Youth Congress president stated.

Banerjee urged people to cast their votes in favour of party nominee Manas Bhuniya. "Undivided Midnapore had played a major role in the freedom movement. In 2019, the district will play a major role in driving out the Modi government. On May 23 when the ballot boxes will be opened, people will see that Trinamool Congress has bagged 42 out of 42 seats," he said. He also urged people to visit the polling stations early and exercise their franchise.