'It's a shame that BJP is playing the religious card to win polls'

Taldangra (Bankura): Trinamool Youth Congress president Abhishek Banerjee said it is a shame that instead of talking on development, BJP is playing the religious card to tide over the elections.

Addressing a rally here on Wednesday afternoon, he said: "When Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee is talking about development at the election rallies, BJP leaders are playing the religious card to win the poll," he said.

Abhishek alleged that the Centre has stopped payments under the 100 days' work. It has also stopped money for various schemes in a bid to stall development in Bengal. "But they do not know that we have Mamata Banerjee in Bengal who has carried out massive development works in the state in the past seven years."

He said that no development works in Purulia and its adjoining areas have taken place during the CPI(M)'s regime. "There was Amiyo Patra and Susanta Ghosh who had unleashed a 'Reign of Terror' in the area and no development had taken place," he said and added: "Patro is contesting in the Lok Sabha polls. Those who used to hold the flag with a sickle and star are now holding the lotus flag. The Congress, BJP and CPI(M) are all working against the Trinamool Congress because if there is change of guard in Delhi then it will be difficult for them to carry on with their vested interests."

He said the scheme to provide drinking water will be completed in a year's time and it will give benefits to thousands of people. The roads have been improved and so also the healthcare system.

He maintained that the "thieves have come here in the guise of chowkidars and are trying to deceive people before the polls." He cautioned the people against the "fake chowkidars".

He urged people to vote for party nominee Subrata Mukherjee who was the state minister for Panchayats and Rural Development department and under his tenure, massive work to provide drinking water in every house was taken up.