Kolkata: With speculation rife over BCCI President Sourav Ganguly joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the high-voltage West Bengal Assembly elections, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday mentioned the former Indian cricketer in his address as he reached out to the voters stating it was sure that he would hit a six whenever he stepped out of the crease and added the saffron party has likewise crossed the crease and will surely hit a six in the electoral battle to form the next government in the state.
“Whenever Sourav Ganguly crossed the crease, it was sure that he would hit a six. Likewise, with your support in the Lok Sabha, we have crossed the crease and surely we will hit a six in the assembly polls and form a BJP-led government here,” he said.
The Defence Minister, who was addressing a public meeting in Salboni, West Midnapore, also used the occasion to take a jibe at West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee who was recently injured following an alleged attack on her in Nandigram.
“I want to assure the people that the day we form the government, we will prevent attacks against everyone, be it the BJP, TMC or CPM workers. There won’t be any discrimination. Strict action will be taken against those propagating violence,” he said.
The senior BJP leader alleged West Bengal is still witnessing poverty and held the TMC and Left responsible for the dismal state of affairs.
“Whenever any discussions are held outside, the people outrightly state there is extreme poverty in West Bengal. The TMC and Left are responsible for this,” he said.
Asserting the TMC has betrayed “maa, maati, manush” of West Bengal, the Defence Minister lauded the steps initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Central Government for the country’s overall development.
“(Prime Minister Narendra) Modi ji gave Rs 25,000 crore to West Bengal for development of roads… (Former prime minister) Rajiv Gandhi had once expressed his helplessness and said if I send 100 paise from Delhi then only 15 paise reach the people,” said Rajnath Singh.
“Modi ji gave instructions for the opening of bank accounts so that money reaches the people…The money sent by the Centre post the cyclonic storm Amphan did not reach the people,” he added.
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Rajnath Singh’s outburst against the West Bengal Government comes as the BJP has been firing on all cylinders in its bid to trounce the ruling TMC in West Bengal.
Polling for the 294-member West Bengal Assembly will be held in eight phases beginning March 27 and ending on April 29. The results will be declared on May 2.