Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a scathing attack on the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government in West Bengal during his visit to Kolkata on Sunday, accusing it of facilitating state-sponsored infiltration and corruption. Highlighting alarming incidents of violence against women, including recent assaults in Sandeshkhali and the rape and murder of a doctor at RG Kar Hospital, Shah asserted that such occurrences reflect the state's failure to ensure women's safety.
In his address, Shah outlined the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) ambitions for the upcoming West Bengal assembly elections in 2026, targeting a two-thirds majority. "In Bengal, where Rabindra Sangeet (Tagore songs) used to be heard in the morning, the sound of bombs is heard everywhere now," he remarked, as quoted by news agency PTI. He attributed rampant corruption to the TMC, claiming it permeates various sectors, including hiring processes, healthcare, and ration distribution. "To get rid of it and build a Sonar Bangla (Developed Bengal) as envisioned by Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, the people of Bengal need to elect a BJP government in 2026," Shah said.
Shah reiterated the urgency of ending the "cut-money culture" in West Bengal, emphasising that such corruption must cease for the welfare of its citizens. He pointed to the incidents in Sandeshkhali and RG Kar Medical College and Hospital as evidence of the lack of security for women, stating, "Women are not safe in Bengal. Incidents like Sandeshkhali and RG Kar will stop when BJP comes to power in 2026."
He urged party members to recognise their influence in the state, asserting that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee should not underestimate the BJP's potential despite the party winning only 12 out of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in Bengal in the 2024 elections, down from 18 in 2019. "Don't forget, we are a party that has gone from two seats to 370 seats," Shah added, reflecting on the BJP's national journey and its aspirations for Bengal.
This visit marks Shah's first since the Lok Sabha elections and follows the Kolkata doctor rape and murder case, which ignited nationwide protests. The Home Minister also took a jab at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, highlighting the BJP's electoral successes while questioning the Congress's claims of victory. "Rahul Gandhi claimed in Parliament that they defeated us in the elections, and I don't understand why his allies don't make him understand that those who win take the oath of Prime Minister and those who lose sit in the opposition benches," Shah stated, as per PTI.
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Amit Shah Responds To Bengal Govt's Allegations Of Centre Withholding Funds
Regarding allegations from the TMC about the Centre withholding funds, Shah accused the ruling party leaders of misappropriating central funds. "I want to ask Mamata didi: how much funding did the INDI alliance (Congress-led UPA government) allocate to Bengal? From 2004 to 2014, the UPA government gave ₹2.9 lakh crore to Bengal, while the NDA government has provided ₹7.74 lakh crore from 2014 to 2024," he explained.
Additionally, Shah assured that every poor person in Bengal would receive benefits from the Ayushman Bharat Yojana from 2026, pledging that youths would no longer have to pay bribes for jobs and education. He accused the TMC government of failing to implement the Centre's health insurance policy.
TMC Alleges Home Affairs Ministry 'Failure' After Amit Shah Slams Bengal Govt Over Infiltration
In response, TMC leader Kunal Ghosh countered Shah's accusations, stating, "Infiltration is a problem at the international border, which is being guarded by the BSF under his ministry. Therefore, if infiltration is an issue, it is a failure of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the central agencies responsible for border protection."
According to PTI, Ghosh characterised Shah as a "political tourist" with minimal influence on local politics, asserting that his frequent pre-election visits and claims do not align with the actual electoral outcomes.