BJP manifesto a ‘chit fund of promises’, says Abhishek, calls it ‘Jumla Patra’
Kolkata: Soon after the BJP released its manifesto, Trinamool Congress (TMC) national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee addressed a Press conference, dismissing it as a “chit fund of promises” and dubbing it a “Jumla Patra.”
Criticising what he termed “hollow assurances,” Banerjee said: “The BJP has promised Rs 3000 per month to women in Bengal. Did you deliver the same in Delhi after promising it before the 2025 Assembly elections?” He added: “Why wait for elections? If you truly intend to support the women of Bengal, you can start anytime. Or is this yet another fake promise?”
On farmers’ issues, particularly promises of fair prices and support for potato and paddy cultivation, he hit back, asking, “If you are pro-farmer, why did thousands of farmers die due to your farm laws?” He further alleged that the Centre halted special freight trains for potato exports from July 9 after the BJP’s defeat in Bengal, despite earlier assurances by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Referring to a post made “757 days ago” on X, Banerjee countered BJP’s promise of a white paper on corruption. “I had asked them to publish white paper detailing funds allocated to Bengal under Awas Yojana, MGNREGA, and Gramin Sadak Yojana over the past five years. They have failed to do so,” he said. Naming leaders like Himanta Biswa Sarma, Suvendu Adhikari and Narayan Rane, he alleged that “those facing corruption charges receive a clean chit upon joining the BJP.” Questioning the BJP’s employment promises, Banerjee reminded that the party had pledged 2 crore jobs annually before coming to power at the Centre. “They now promise 1 crore jobs and Rs 3000 for the unemployed. Why hasn’t this been implemented in BJP-ruled states like Assam, Bihar or Rajasthan?” he asked. On women’s safety, he criticised BJP’s promise of forming special police units, alleging contradiction between rhetoric and past actions of party leaders. He also targeted the party’s claim of ending “cut money” and the so-called syndicate raj, asserting that “those raising such slogans must first address corruption allegations within their own ranks.”
Expanding on the proposed implementation of the UCC, Banerjee warned that such a move could have far-reaching consequences for West Bengal’s social fabric. He argued that the policy risks undermining the rights and customary practices of tribal and marginalised communities, particularly Scheduled Tribes, by enforcing a uniform legal framework without accommodating cultural diversity. He further accused the Centre of making selective promises across sectors without delivering on past commitments. Referring to assurances on industrial growth, fishermen’s welfare, and agricultural support, Banerjee said many such schemes remain either unimplemented or inconsistently applied in states where the BJP is already in power. Touching upon tea garden workers, he noted that daily wages had increased under the state government and questioned the Centre’s contribution. He concluded by returning to the issue of the SIR, saying the BJP’s so-called “Bharshar Sapath” has failed to eliminate “bhoy” (fear) and has instead deepened it. Banerjee alleged that over 200 people died amid SIR-related anxiety, while thousands were disenfranchised due to large-scale deletions.
“This is not ‘bharsha’, but fear,” he said, adding that people would choose “real bharsha” this time.
