Change of guard imminent in BJP-ruled states, says Mamata

Kolkata: Training her guns on the BJP for not fulfilling its poll promises and leading hundreds and thousands of businessmen and traders into a constant quagmire with the ED, the CBI and Income Tax department on their heels, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the saffron party would face an electoral debacle in 2019.

Addressing a rally organised by the Hindi-speaking populace at Battery Maidan of Shimulia in Purulia, she said there will be a change of guard in those states that are governed by the BJP.

"What we have come to know so far is that BJP would lose the election in Rajasthan. As per available reports, they might face a similar fate in other states as well. Their condition is not good," Banerjee said.

She further added: "People are not supporting BJP in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and other states. We have learnt that in every state ruled by BJP, be it MP or Rajasthan, it will lose the battle."

Without taking any name, the Chief Minister criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She said: "The leader of the country must be one who would be loved by the people and not one who is feared. Such people have become leaders of the country whom the people of the country do not love. When people do not like a leader or the government they silently vote them out."

Banerjee also stated: "Today, the traders are in trouble. They are scared of the CBI, ED and I-T Department. This fear was not there earlier. People are not able to do business freely. Even the money kept in the banks is not safe. The business infrastructure in the country has completely collapsed after demonetisation. Many small and medium-scale traders are forced to shut their shops while a number of big businessmen have left the country."

The Assembly election in Madhya Pradesh will be held on November 28 while Rajasthan will go to polls on December 7.

She also pointed out that in a country like India, the housewives and mothers had an epoch-old habit of hoarding money to be provided to others in times of need. But the demonetisation ruined everything and their money was looted in its name, Banerjee maintained.

Giving statistics, Banerjee said that social schemes like "Kanyashree" initiated by the Bengal government have far outweighed the "Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao" Yojana of the Centre.

"The Centre has allotted only Rs 100 crore for running 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' in the country whereas the Bengal government has already spent Rs 6,000 crore for the smooth implementation of the Kanyashree scheme in the state. They have made lofty promises but failed miserably to execute them," Banerjee said.

"Politicians will come and go but the system will stay. Politics is not for selling the country. Politics should not harm public sentiment and but should look after the people instead," she maintained.

"We have set up many Hindi colleges and Hindi universities will also be set up. We have started schemes for Rajbangshi and Kantapuri and others as well. Our government has given two days' holidays during Chhath Puja in Bengal, while the Centre has given no holidays," Banerjee added.

The Chief Minister also urged businessmen and industrialists in the rally to take part in the Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS) in February and invest in the state. She also sought suggestions from them.