'People trust Trinamool as we have always stood beside them'

Tufangunj: Speaking to voters at a rally here on Wednesday afternoon, Trinamool Youth Congress president Abhishek Banerjee urged them to ensure that the deposit of the BJP candidates in the ensuing Lok Sabha polls is forfeited.

"We should take a pledge to ensure defeat of the BJP candidates in the ensuing Lok Sabha polls. Ensure that their deposit is forfeited," Banerjee told the people.

He said people trust Trinamool Congress because they know that at times of distress they will get workers of the party beside them. "Whether in case of natural calamity or disaster in the family, our workers and leaders always stand beside aggrieved people. We do it throughout the year. But the BJP workers come only during the time of election. They are like seasonal birds and you will never find them after the poll," he said.

Banerjee said it is the duty of all the workers and leaders of the party to fulfill Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's dream of winning 42 out of 42 seats in Bengal. "Work hard, go to people and listen to their grievances and try to assist them," was his advice to the party workers.

He urged party workers to fight unitedly against BJP and oust Narendra Modi. "We want a secular government at the Centre and not the one that believes in hate, division and inciting one group against the other," he maintained.

Criticising BJP, the Trinamool Youth Congress leader said: "BJP is nominating people who have been rejected by Trinamool and thrown out of the party. The candidate from Cooch Behar has 11 criminal cases against him. He was thrown out of Trinamool. BJP had welcomed him and fielded him as a candidate. This is a party which gives protection and shelter to criminals and mafias."

Banerjee said in the past five years, the people of India have seen the performance of the Central government. "Modi's announcement of 'Acche Din' was a hoax. People have lost jobs due to demonetisation. The youths have not got jobs and unemployment is soaring. There has been economic depression. On top of this, BJP is setting Central agencies against those who have raised questions. Never in the past has India seen such a vindictive and corrupt government," he added.

He said the people of Bengal do not believe in mixing politics with religion. "Religion in Bengal means tolerance and acceptance. We do not believe in division in the name of religion. BJP will get a befitting reply during the polls," he said.