Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in an exclusive interview with ABP News, on Tuesday criticised the West Bengal government under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, highlighting concerns over infiltration and recent incidents like the Sandeshkhali row.
Shah expressed serious apprehensions about the security implications of alleged infiltration in Bengal, stating, "The biggest issue in Bengal is infiltration. The way infiltration is happening in the border state, serious consequences are imminent for the country's security. The demographic change in a border state happens so rapidly, and Mamata Banerjee's government is turning a blind eye to it, supporting it to increase her vote bank. This is a serious danger for the entire nation because after coming to Bengal, they do not stay confined to Bengal alone, they can go anywhere in the country."
He also criticised the state government's opposition to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), questioning, "You allow infiltration to happen, you allow them to take citizenship by wrong means, and the refugees who have come and want citizenship legally, are opposed. What is Mamata Banerjee's problem if Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, and Jain refugees from neighbouring countries get citizenship? She has only one problem, that her voter bank of infiltrators will be unhappy with this."
Shah slammed the ruling TMC about alleged corruption and lawlessness in the state, alleging, "Limitless corruption has taken place there. Rs 51 crore were seized from a minister's house, and you do not even expel him from the party... In such a poor state, you do not implement Modi ji's Garib Kalyan Yojana on the ground. The people of Bengal are troubled by all these issues: cut money, corruption, hooliganism, bomb blasts, and poll violence. Mamta ji doesn't see it, she just thinks she won."
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Amit Shah Slams Mamata Banerjee Govt Over Sandeshkhali Case, Teacher Recruitment 'Scam'
Regarding recent events like the alleged sexual assault of women in Sandeshkhali, Shah criticised the state government's handling of the situation, accusing them of using religion-based politics to protect their vote bank, "What has happened in Sandeshkhali is shameful for our democracy. To protect her vote bank, a woman Chief Minister of her state allowed hundreds of women to be exploited on the basis of religion right under her nose, by people of her party."
He lamented, "(Mamata) Govt did not arrest them; the High Court has to order their arrest. They should feel ashamed."
Shah also touched upon the teacher recruitment scam case in Bengal, where thousands of deserving candidates were denied jobs due to corruption. He stated, "In the teacher recruitment scam, lakhs of candidates from poor households appeared for the exam, however, taking money shamelessly, jobs were given to 25,000 people, which the High Court has now declared void. Today, those 25,000 are also unhappy, and the hardworking youths who applied are also unhappy."
Looking ahead to the elections, Shah expressed confidence in his party's prospects, declaring, "We will win at least 30 seats in Bengal."
In the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections TMC emerged as the largest party with 18 seats but witnessed a significant decline of 12 seats from the 2014 elections whereas the BJP made a remarkable leap, securing 18 seats compared to just two in 2014.
In Lok Sabha Elections 2024, Bengal is witnessing polling across all seven phases from April 19 to June 1.