Return black money, ballot paper voting in elections: Mamata Banerjee at July 21 rally

Addressing a large gathering of people from the stage of Martyrs' Day at Kolkata's downtown Esplanade area, which is observed by the Trinamool Congress to commemorate those killed on this day 26 years ago in police firing in the city during an agitation, Banerjee alleged that the BJP has started violence by just winning a few seats in Bengal.

She said the BJP is unleashing violence in the state by winning 18 seats in the Lok Sabha polls though TMC still has 22 seats.

Alleging BJP of stopping buses at several places to stop her supporters from coming to the meeting, Banerjee said: "You are stopping our activists from coming here, which is an annual programme of TMC, but you will also hold meetings in future, will you be able to handle if people think of avenging this?"

Alarming the ones for voting in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party in the recently held Lok Sabha elections, Banerjee said: "Have you seen the result of voting for BJP, the result is Bhatpara where schools and marketplaces are closed for so many days."

Stating that it is not so easy to take control of Bengal, the chief minister said: "Fight for 34 years and then come to take control of Bengal like we did. We also won 26 seats in 2009, but we never vandalised CPM party offices. First, know the culture of Bengal, then come to take control of the state."

"These are goons of RSS who are creating ruckus here in Bengal. They are demanding the return of cut money. I am demanding now return the black money and Rs 15 lakh each to people. From where did you get so much money to do such luxurious campaigns during the Lok Sabha elections?"

Criticising the Sonbhadra killings in Uttar Pradesh and thereby detention of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi, Banerjee said: "We have sent our team to UP, you have stopped us. You have stopped Priyanka Gandhi as well. We never stop people even during Section 144 imposition. Media also raised their voice against us but why aren't they doing the same now in UP."

She also directed the ones unhappy with the schemes of the state government to leave Bengal. "People have a lot of regret against our party now just because we are people's party and work for the poor. So it is easy to target us."

Targeting the CPI-M party, she said, "I pity CPM, they are now supporting the BJP? It's like old alcohol in a new bottle."

Slamming the Centre, Banerjee said: "Once the election is over, they hiked the prices of petrol and diesel. Not only that now they are looking for disinvestment."

The West Bengal CM urged the TMC workers to protest against them.

"They have now resorted to selling India, lynching and killing Hindus to gain in the elections. Killing in UP is called encounter but in Bengal, if three people are dead, in Parliament, the report goes as 30 and the killings are called political violence," she claimed.

In an attempt to appease the Hindus she spoke about the number of temples she has renovated and also how she restored the houses of  Hindu reformers and leaders.

"My government will generate 5 lakh jobs. We have upgraded the technicians' studio in Tollygunge, we are upgrading the 'silicon valley' (read IT infrastructure) here," said the TMC supremo.

Banerjee said the country is in danger and the federal structure of the country is being bulldozed.

She said the BJP won by misuing the EVMs and if the EVMs were perfect they would have been used in contries like USA or the UK or The Netherlands and Japan.

Raising her demand for the return of ballot papers in the election, Banerjee said: "To save democracy, we want ballots back for all the upcoming elections instead of EVMs. We will show the path of democracy restoration again. Bengal will never stoop down before the BJP. Several of the countries that had introduced EVMs for elections, like England, USA, Germany and France, have gone back to ballots."

"I can tolerate everything but not insult of Bengal," said she.

Banerjee said the TMC would fight every inch and if BJP tries to tinker with Tagore of Vidyasagar then TMC would cross the danger level.

She said the centre is using agencies and Enforcement Directorate to target people like TMC MP Satabdi Roy and others.

"BJP is using agencies, and aiming to break the governments in Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Rajasthan," she said.

Banerjee said her government has worked to generate employment and protect every section of society.

She said the BJP should explain how they used thousands of crores in election and foreign funds. "We want to know much foreign funds you have got," she hollered.

She said on July 29 the TMC would try to start a programme to reach out to every one booth by booth.

"Go to villages and connect with the people. We will turn around as a good political party," she said.