'Don't vote for a PM who divides people'
Namkhana/Metiabruz (South 24-Parganas): Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee urged people not to cast any vote in favour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who believes in using nasty divisive politics to destabilise the society. She was addressing a mammoth rally at Metiabruz on Monday afternoon.
"Modi creates divide between the Hindus and Muslims and tries to destroy our tradition and culture. In Bengal, people belonging to different castes and religions live peacefully. You will find many Hindus taking part in Iftar and many Muslims organising Durga puja. I will not allow anyone to destroy our tradition and culture," said an irate Mamata.
Retorting to the fact that people have often criticised her for Muslim appeasement, she said: "What does this mean? Should I shun them? Aren't they my brothers? I come from a Brahmin family and it was Firhad Hakim and his wife who had offered bhiksha to the son of my brother during his sacred thread ceremony. We do not discriminate between Hindus and Muslims."
She alleged that BJP is spending huge amounts of money to win the election. "They are spending crores of rupees to win the election. I have demanded electoral reforms. BJP leaders are staying in different hotels and guest houses with boxes containing money. I have asked the police to check the cars of all the leaders including myself. In Midnapore, money was found in the possession of a BJP leader," Banerjee said, without naming Bharati Ghosh. The Trinamool supremo's apprehension came true when Rs 1 crore was found from the personal assistant of state BJP president Dilip Ghosh on Monday.
Banerjee said the saffron party has taken control over all the institutions. "The Central Forces jawans are opening fire and are harassing people. Law and Order is a state subject. Some of the Central Force personnel are even asking people to cast their vote for Modi. We have taken up the matter in the proper forum," she added.
Coming down heavily on CPI(M) and Congress, Banerjee alleged that both the parties are helping BJP clandestinely and vice-versa. "In Jadavpur, BJP is helping Bikas Bhattacharya while RSS has helped Congress candidates Adhir Chowdhury and Abhijit Mukherjee in the Berhampur and Jangipur seats. This is most unfortunate. I have to fight against BJP, CPI(M), Congress and the Central agencies at once," she said.
Criticising BJP national president Amit Shah, who said that she has reduced Bengal to a Kangal (beggar), Banerjee said: "What an audacity. BJP has ruined India financially. Note ban was a disaster and hasty implementation of GST has affected the small and medium scale traders and businesses. Instead of self-analysing he is criticising Bengal where tremendous development has taken place in the past eight years."
"It was May 13, 2011 when Trinamool Congress had ousted CPI(M) and put an end to 34 years of misrule in Bengal. Now, the rule of BJP will come to an end in similar fashion. We will set up a stable government at the Centre, which will be secular and pro-development," the Trinamool supremo added. She urged people to vote for C M Jatua in Mathurapur and Abhishek Banerjee in Dianomd Harbour, saying: "Cast your vote in favour of Trinamool Congress to oust Modi from Delhi and pave the way for a stable government at the Centre."
