In a blistering attack on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee amid the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the TMC supremo came to power on the promise of a government to ” Maa, Maati, Manush”, but that he now served “mullah, Madrasah and mafia”, the ANI news agency reported.
Addressing a rally in Bongaon in northern 24 Parganas on Tuesday, the Union Home Minister said the TMC government was providing monthly honorarium to imams but not a penny to priests and temple custodians.
“The TMC came to power with the slogan ‘Maa, Mati, Manush’. However, now its attention has shifted to ‘Mullah, Madrasa, Mafia’. The imams here receive fees, but the priests and guardians of the temples do not “While there are no obstacles to Tazias (Muharram mourners’ procession), there are regular obstacles to carrying out immersion processions on Durga Puja and Kali Puja, in case this is allowed to continue,” he said. Shah, ANI reported.
Also attacking the CM for rejecting the invitation to Ram Lalla’s `Pran Pratishtha` in Ayodhya, the Union Home Minister said: “Despite receiving a formal invitation, she did not attend the inauguration ceremony (at the temple of Ram) to appease a “You are not his vote bank, but the infiltrators. She is afraid of ruining her vote bank,” ANI reported.
He also accused the chief minister of spreading falsehoods about the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), and said she was “misleading” people about the central legislation that aims to grant asylum and permanent residency to minority migrant settlers from Pakistan. Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
“Mamata Banerjee is misleading people by saying that the CAA could lead to problems for people. I want to assure everyone that the legislation is not intended to cause any harm to anyone. All bona fide citizens can continue to lead their lives here with dignity “No power in the world can prevent Hindu, Sikh and Jain refugees from becoming citizens of the country,” he said, ANI reported.
Alleging that the ruling TMC was trying to convert infiltrators into Indian citizens while opposing the CAA, which aims to grant permanent residency to oppressed minorities, including the Matuas who crossed over from Bangladesh.
“I want to remind Mamata Banerjee that the central government, and not the state governments, reserves the right to grant citizenship,” he added, ANI reported.
Shah assured that the Matua community, which lives in Bongaon and other parts of northern 24 Parganas, could avail the rights under the CAA if the BJP comes to power in Bengal, adding: “Four phases of voting have been completed .The elections for 380 seats in the Lok Sabha, including 18 in Bengal, are done and dusted. I can tell you today that of the 380 seats for which elections have already been held, Prime Minister Modi has won an absolute majority, winning 270. seats. now it is to exceed 400 seats,” ANI reported.
Warning CM Mamata Banerjee that those involved in “scams” would not be spared, the Union Home Minister said, “From ‘money-cutting’ culture to infiltration, from bomb blasts to Bhatija’s (nephew) goons of CM, Abhishek Banerjee) harassing People, from `Syndicate Raj` to complete anarchy, Bengal is facing a state of total anarchy. Only Narendra Modi-Ji can save the state from sinking further into the abyss. recruitment, rationing scam, cow and coal smuggling should be ready to go to jail, no one will be spared,” he said, ANI reported.
Amit Shah was campaigning for BJP candidate Shantanu Thakur, who is contesting against TMC’s Biswajit Das in his bid to secure a fresh term in the Lok Sabha from Bangaon.
Polls in Bengal are being held in all seven phases of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and counting of votes is scheduled for June 4.
(With contributions from ANI)