BJP dividing people along religious lines: Mamata

Kolkata: Coming down heavily on the BJP, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee said "Acche Din" has brought only sorrow to the nation with the country's growth sliding down coupled with mounting unemployment and communal disharmony.

"In the name of "Acche din" the country's growth is sliding down because of note ban, unemployment is going up coupled with communal disharmony because of divisive politics," she said while addressing a mammoth rally on Mayo Road on Monday afternoon to celebrate the foundation day of Trinamool Congress Chatra Parishad (TMCP). "Just as nashbandhi had led to the downfall of Indira Gandhi, the BJP will meet the same fate because of its note ban policy," she remarked.

She welcomed the Supreme Court order declaring privacy a fundamental right. The CM also alleged that the Central government was trying to infringe on the right to privacy by imposing Aadhaar on "everything".

Accusing the BJP of dividing people on religious lines in a veiled attack, she called for ousting the party in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Urging the students' community to take part in social development since "the new generation will create new India," she added: "The BJP wants to divide people on religious lines. They are trying the same trick in Bengal. We will never allow it. The youth and students are the future of the country and they have to lead the fight for 'poriborton' (change) at the Centre in 2019."

"Bengal will show the way. Bengal will give the slogan of 'BJP Hatao, Desh Bachao, Communalism Hatao, Desh Bachao'," she added.

She further stated: "By announcing note ban, the condition of the poor went down from bad to worse. The economic health of the country was badly affected and the GDP suffered a major setback. Then by introducing GST in an unplanned manner, the economy of the country has been further hit."

She accused the BJP of trying to engineer communal riots in Bengal. "They cannot control people like Ram Rahim and now they are targeting Bengal," she said adding that there are some with vested interests who are trying to create communal tension over Durga idol immersion and Muharram procession issue. "They do not understand the psyche of the people of Bengal. Even a fool does not immerse any idol on Ekadashi. In 2016 also, immersion was not allowed on Muharram ."

Criticising CPI(M), she said it is trying to strike an underhand deal with the BJP and "we will fight it out politically," she said adding: "Both CPIM and BJP are trying to create trouble in Bengal and asked the students to remain ever vigilant against them.

Banerjee said projects like Kanyashree and Sabuj Sathi have helped the student community enormously. Around Rs 5000 crore has been allotted for Kanyashree and girls pursuing post-graduate courses will get financial assistance.

Under the Sabuj Sathi project, 70 lakh bicycles will be given to the students of Classes IX to XII of the state-run, aided and sponsored schools.