West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday urged the CPI(M) and the Congress to join hands with her to contain the BJP has received tepid response from lower level workers of these parties. The state leaderships of these parties are yet to respond to the call.
The BJP has been growing steadily in the state which is witnessing high incidence of political violence. Observers feel that BJP might win the state in the forthcoming Assembly elections.
Trinamool’s Muslim appeasement policy has backfired. In many bordering areas, Bangladeshi infiltrators have run riot attacking Hindu settlements and shops. Indus Scrolls has earlier reported how Hindu minorities are being forced to leave their villages after being harassed and attacked by Bangladeshi Muslim migrants.
A CPI(M) leader hailing from Basirhat told Indus Scrolls that his party was not in a position to fight Trinamool. “Trinamool goons occupied our party office and attack us. We will not support Mamata even if our leadership says so,” he said.
The ruling Trinamool Congress is witnessing severe defections with many of its MLAs and senior leaders deserting the party to join the saffron party.
Trinamool’s Muslim appeasement policy has backfired. In many bordering areas, Bangladeshi infiltrators have run riot attacking Hindu settlements and shops.
On Wednesday, while speaking in the Assembly, Banerjee said: “All of us — the Trinamool, CPI(M) and the Congress — should come together against the BJP. The Bhatpara riots is an eye-opener for the people of the state as to what happens if votes go to the BJP.” Later, she clarified: “What I am suggesting is that we can be on the same page with regard to common issues at the national level.”
Meanwhile, cut-money (bribe) issue has become a hot debating point in Bengal, especially on social media. Banerjee said about less than one per cent of her party workers may be corrupt. But she was trying to discipline them. “There is nothing wrong if I want to discipline my workers. But at the same time, no one can malign us without any proof.”
The state has been witnessing daily demonstrations and protests outside the residences of Trinamool leaders across the state by people demanding return of the cut money or bribes taken by the leaders for sanctioning government projects or reaching welfare schemes to beneficiaries.
Banerjee last week had lashed out against the unscrupulous section of Trinamool leaders and ordered them to return the commissions they had taken from the people.
The state government has indicated that elected representatives facing allegations of taking commissions would be booked under section 409 of the Indian Penal Code that deals with criminal breach of trust by a public servant. The maximum punishment is life imprisonment.
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