After Mamata’s Mega Show, Modi And Amit Shah to Hold Rallies Across Bengal
KOLKATA : Three days after Mamata Banerjee’s mega anti-BJP rally in the city, the BJP top brass, including PM Modi and party president Amit Shah, will feature in back-to-back rallies across the state from Jan 22 to Feb 8.Launching the ruling BJP’s campaign in Bengal for the national election due by May, Amit Shah today mocked the mega opposition rally organised by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday. There were 23 parties and nine prime minister aspirants at that gathering at Kolkata’s Brigade Ground, the BJP president said at a rally in Malda.
Speaking to media , state BJP president Dilip Ghosh said, “Amit ji’s first rally will be held on January 22 at Malda district. On January 23, he will address two rallies in Jhargram and in Suri in Birbhum district.
On January 24, we will request a union minister (probably Smriti Irani because Amit ji is not well) to address public meetings at Krishnanagar in Nadia district and Joynagar in South 24 Parganas district.”
He added, “Initially, there was a plan to hold Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s public meet at Kolkata’s Brigade Parade Ground (where Mamata held a rally on January 19). But central leadership feel that time is too short to organise such a rally. Therefore, we have decided to organise three separate rallies at Siliguri, Thakuragar (North 24-Parganas) and in Asansol on January 28, January 31 and on February 8 where our PM will address public meetings.”
In another development, the saffron party alleged that the Bengal government has denied permission to land Amit Shah’s chopper at the Malda airstrip on January 22. “Malda administration (on January 18) claimed that due to the upgradation of the airstrip Amit ji’s chopper cannot land there. This is harassment and nothing else. The ruling government is misusing the police for their political interest. We then made alternative arrangements. Now, his chopper will land on the private helipad of Golden Park Hotels and Resorts, in Malda,” Ghosh said.
Responding to the BJP’s allegations, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, “Permission was not given at the Malda airstrip due to security reasons. The police gave permission to land his chopper at another place (in Malda). These are security issues. It happened with me also several times. They are misleading people.” The BJP is hoping to win 22 Parliamentary seats out of 42 in Bengal. The party presently has two Lok Sabha seats (Asansol and Darjeeling) in the state.
The TMC, on the other hand, is eyeing a wider political space and is looking forward to play an important role to fight against the saffron brigade ahead of the crucial 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Amit Shah’s rally almost didn’t happen. The BJP claimed the Malda administration had refused to permission to let his helicopter land at the state-run airstrip. But land he did. Of two options — the BSF helipad and that at a private resort, he chose the latter.
Making a point about violence on the Trinamool Congress’ watch, Amit Shah also said the land of Rabindra Sangeet was now infested with bomb and weapon-making industries. Only BJP, he said, would bring the glory back to Bengal.”Gathbandhan, gathbandhan, gathbandhan,” Mr Shah mocked, adding, “Gathbandhan for what? You can’t hope to get rid of Narendra Modi by 25 people holding hands on stage. Narendra Modi has the people with him and is standing tall like a mountain.”
“Of the 23 people who were seated at Brigade Ground (the rally venue), there are nine who want to be PM. We only have one leader – the entire NDA (National Democratic Alliance) stands rock-solid behind Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” said the BJP president. The Trinamool was quick to react, with a Facebook live minutes after Mr Amit Shah’s speech. “After listening to the BJP president’s speech in Malda, it is obvious that they are very nervous. They know their days are numbered. They are politically scared. Their speeches are low on facts and poor in taste.
“They don’t understand the ethos of India. They don’t understand the ethos of Bengal. They are heading towards one big zero. Some are saying they are desperate. Some are saying they have gone mad. Or is it a combination of both ? Trinamool lawmaker Derek O’Brien said. Mamata Banerjee’s grand show of opposition unity starred several prominent leaders like Samajwadi chief Akhilesh Yadav, RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav and Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal but had notable exceptions like Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Bahujan Samaj Party’s Mayawati; both sent representatives.
Amit Shah said Mamata Banerjee had no idea how much the Congress-led UPA had given Bengal and how much more was the BJP-led coalition’s contribution. “The UPA II government in its five years gave only Rs. 1.32 lakh crore while the Narendra Modi-government provided over Rs. 3.95 lakh crore,” he said. Ahead of the national election, the BJP has planned around 30 such meetings in 10 days. Top ministers and even PM Modi will address a few.(With Agency Inputs ).
