Malda (West Bengal):

Hitting out at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for “spreading lies” regarding the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that the legislation will ensure the safety of the persecuted minorities.

The Defence Minister held three election campaign meetings in West Bengal, including two meetings near the Bangladesh border.

The first meeting was held in Murshidabad for Gouri Shankar Ghosh, the second meeting was held in Malda Uttar constituency for Khagen Murmu and the third meeting was held in Darjeeling for party candidate Raju Bista.

“Mamata Banerjee is spreading lies regarding CAA among the people of Bengal, especially the Muslim community,” Mr Singh said at a public meeting in Malda, West Bengal.

“CAA will ensure safety to persecuted religious minorities of Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan as they are our people,” he added.

He also attacked CM Mamata for her remark of abolishing the CAA and said that “no power in the world” can stop this legislation.

“Mamata Didi said that she would abolish CAA. I want to ask her why she is lying to the people of West Bengal. Politics can also be done by speaking truth to the people. No state has the power to abolish CAA and no power in the world can stop CAA,” the former Uttar Pradesh CM said.

Recently, CM Mamata had urged the migrant workers in the state not to return before casting vote in the Lok Sabha elections, alleging that if they don’t vote, the BJP government will take away their citizenships.

Attacking TMC and Congress party over ‘corruption’, he said that no corruption charge has been levelled against the BJP-ruled Centre in the last 10 years.

“The leaders of TMC and Congress are deeply involved in corruption and due to this, they were put behind bars. BJP is in power for the last ten years, and not a single person can point out corruption during the tenure…The way TMC is ruling the state, there is no difference between Trinamool Congress and Congress,” Mr Singh said.

The Defence Minister strongly condemned the Sandeshkhali incident — where several women have alleged molestation and land grabbing by TMC leaders — and said that no one will dare to repeat such an incident if BJP comes to power.

“West Bengal is known for academicians but under the current regime, criminals are prevailing here. There is an atmosphere of anarchy in the entire West Bengal. The world was ashamed over the atrocities against women in Sandeshkhali and it has dented the image of India internationally. The entire humanity is ashamed of the Sandeshkhali incident,” Mr Singh said.

“I assure you if the BJP government is formed here, we will see who dares to repeat the incident like Sandeshkhali,” he added.

He also hailed the Women’s Reservation Bill passed by the Parliament and said that one-third reservation for women will be granted from the next election onwards.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has held a stronghold in West Bengal. The party won 34 out of 42 seats in 2014. But in 2019, BJP showed a strong improvement winning 18 seats, while TMC’s tally came down to 22.

Voting in West Bengal is taking place across all seven phases. Polling were held in three constituencies on April 19. The counting of votes will take place on June 4.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Murshidabad (West Bengal):

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday slammed the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government over the law and order situation in West Bengal and said that atmosphere of anarchy is prevailing in the entire state.

Addressing a public rally in Murshidabad, West Bengal, Rajnath Singh said, “There is an atmosphere of anarchy in the entire West Bengal and it is known for crime. Incidents like Sandeshkhali happen in the land of West Bengal. I assure you that this time if the BJP government is formed here, we will see who dares to repeat the incident like Sandeshkhali.”

“When ED and CBI come here for investigation, they are attacked by goons. There is no law and order in the state,” he added.

Earlier today, West Bengal Leader of Opposition and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday called Mamata Banerjee’s TMC party a party of goons that lacks support from the people.

“TMC is a party of goons. TMC is not a political party…Goons and police are with them, not the people,” Mr Adhikari said.

Sharing a similar sentiment, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Medinipore, Agnimitra Paul, also accused West Bengal Chief Minister of misusing the police and administration for her political gains.

Ms Paul also said that Mamata Banerjee’s tactics will not work and the BJP will perform well in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.”Mamata Banerjee has only one weapon, the police and administration, with which she works, but this time it will not work. The BJP will produce very good results,” she said.

Ms Paul added that the people would respond to Mamata Banerjee’s treatment of the people in Bengal and her dishonesty towards women after the Sandeshkhali incident.

“The way Mamata Banerjee has treated the people of Bengal, the dishonesty she has shown towards women after Sandeshkhali, we have seen and continue to see… The youth of our society have been victimised, jobs have been stolen, and the people of Bengal will respond to this,” she said.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has traditionally held a stronghold in West Bengal. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the TMC emerged as the dominant force, securing 34 seats in the state. 

In contrast, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) managed to win only 2 seats. The CPI (M) and the Congress won 2 and 4 seats, respectively. However, the political landscape saw a significant shift in the 2019 polls. The BJP won 18 seats, a stark contrast to their previous tally.

The TMC, although still in the lead, saw their seat count reduced to 22. The Congress’s representation was reduced to just 2 seats, while the Left Front was unable to secure any seats.

The first phase of voting recently concluded in the Coochbehar, Alipurduar, and Jalpaiguri parliamentary constituencies. The BJP won in all these constituencies in the last election in 2019. A high voter turnout was recorded in all three constituencies, with 75.54 per cent in Alipurduar, 77.73 per cent in Coochbehar, and 79.33 per cent in Jalpaiguri.

Voting for the remaining constituencies of West Bengal will be held on April 26, May 4, May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1. The votes will be counted on June 4.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)