No democracy in West Bengal, says Amit Shah reacting to report of barring Hindu community to vote
Kolkata, Apr 22 (IBNS): Reacting to the news report claiming that the Hindu community at a village in Raiganj was stopped from voting by the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah on Monday said there is no democracy in the Mamata Banerjee-ruled eastern state.
"I have been saying this for a while. There is no democracy in West Bengal. Democracy is getting killed here (by Trinamool). I appeal to all people of the state to cast votes without any fear. The Election Commission made an arrangement for a free and fair elections and that is why Mamata Banerjee is so nervous," Shah said while addressing a press conference here.
According to a Times Now report from a polling booth, the Hindu community was stopped from going to cast their votes in the Muslim-dominated village with others voting for them.
Some villagers have alleged they were stopped from voting by some Muslim men as they were about to vote the BJP in Raiganj, which went to polls in the second phase on Apr 18.
Visiting the state a day ahead of the third phase of polls, Shah launched an unsparing attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the Trinamool government.
Attacking Banerjee over the law and order situation in the state, the BJP chief said: "Considering the present law and order situation in West Bengal, people are now saying the Communists were better."
Shah once again raised his voice in bringing the Citizenship Amendment Bill and doing the National Register of Citizens (NRC) after returning to power at the Centre in 2019.
"Only BJP can throw out infiltrators and it will do so across the nation," he said.
The BJP chief did not miss the opportunity to accuse Banerjee of not allowing Durga Puja and Saraswati Puja in the state, where the saffron party is aiming to gain "minimum 23 seats".
"BJP will restore Durga Puja and Saraswati Puja. Ayushman Bharat (the health scheme launched by the central government) has also been kept away from poor people in the state by Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool government," the saffron leader said.
Claiming the BJP will get more seats that the 2014 General Elections, Shah said the 2019 Lok Sabha polls are not only for the country but also "to restore democracy in West Bengal".
West Bengal is having elections in all seven phases with the last one to be held on May 19.
Though the BJP had won only two Lok Sabha seats in 2014, the saffron party appeared to be distant but main challenger to the ruling Trinamool in recent by-elections, relegating the Left and Congress to the third and fourth positions respectively.
On the other hand, Banerjee-led Trinamool has given a call this time to win all 42 Lok Sabha seats in the state.
The poll results will be declared on May 23.
Image Credit: File
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