How is Modi spending crores on meetings: CM to seek EC probe

Heria, Nimtouri (East Midnapore): Trinamool Congress will write to the Election Commission of India, to conduct an inquiry into the expenditure incurred at the meetings that are being addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee on Sunday.

"Look how Modi is spending money at the election meetings. He is spending crores of rupees at the meetings, flouting ECI norms. Who is Modi? There is no special rule for him. We will write to the ECI to conduct an inquiry into the expenditure incurred at his meetings. We want to know the source as well. It is public money," Banerjee said, adding: "In Varanasi, Modi spent more than a crore to conduct the meeting." She addressed two meetings at Heria and Nimtouri on Sunday afternoon.

Coming down heavily on Modi and RSS, Banerjee alleged that "Modi is not talking about the development carried out by the Centre in the past five years. He is talking about Hindutva to win elections. In India, people from different religious communities have lived peacefully and happily for thousands of years. If the country belongs only to the Hindus then should we drive out or kill the people belonging to other religious communities? There will be communal riots every day."

The Trinamool supremo said that in the election rallies, Modi is speaking "lies and lies only." "He is saying that no Durga Puja is held in Bengal. This is absolutely false. If no Durga Puja is held then why did his party go to the High Court challenging the state government's decision to give Rs 10,000 to the clubs? Also, why did the Income Tax send notice to 40 Durga Puja clubs asking them to furnish the details of expenditure? Modi does not do any home work and deliberately tells lies to create confusion among the people," she added.

She also alleged that the saffron party has engaged agencies to bring people to the rallies or put up their flags, by paying huge amounts of money to them. "The workers do not put up posters or bring people to the rallies. They do it through agencies. We want a probe into the matter and want to know how much money BJP has given to the agencies," she stated.

Banerjee said that in the past seven years, all-round development has taken place in East Midnapore. Digha is coming up as a major tourist spot. The schemes taken up by the state government have helped people coming from all walks of life. The students have been benefitted by Kanyashree, Yubashree and the Swami Vivekananda scholarship. Khadya Sathi has helped poor people as they get one kilogram of rice at Rs 2.

She urged the people to cast their votes in favour of party candidates Sisir Adhikari and Dibyendu Adhikari. "On May 12 when election will be held in Tamluk, Kanthi and Ghatal constituencies, case your votes in favour of Trinamool candidates to oust BJP from the Centre," she said.