Shah, Didi target ‘nephew’ and ‘son’ at Bengal rallies
Modiji sent huge funds for the development of Bengal... The amounts were looted by Bhaipo (nephew) and his goons. Once the BJP government comes to existence, all graft cases will be investigated and whoever ate the money for the poor people of Bengal will be sent to the custody of the law.
— Amit Shah, Union home minister
Union home minister Amit Shah and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee were locked in a war of words while addressing two separate rallies in South 24 Parganas district on Thursday over the issue of the former's son and the latter’s nephew.
Mr Shah accused Ms Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee, who is an MP, of siphoning off the Central government’s grant meant for the people saying that after the BJP comes to power in the state, it will put all culprits behind the bars. The chief minister hit back saying that his son will also not be spared for earning crores.
Addressing a rally at Namkhana in South 24 Parganas, Mr Shah said, "When Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent relief for those affected by Cyclone Amphan, the TMC goons looted it. It was around Rs 3,500 crore which he had disbursed. Still nothing happened here. As soon as the BJP forms its government here, we will carry out a high-level probe into the Amphan fund misappropriation and send those, who ate away your pie, to jail."
Training his guns on the chief minister and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee, Mr Shah claimed, "Modiji also sent huge funds for the development of Bengal. But the amounts went to the syndicates of Didi. The Congress, when in power at the Centre, had released Rs 1.32 lakh crore to the state over five years. But the Narendra Modi government sent here Rs 3.59 lakh crore in five years. The amounts were looted by Bhaipo (nephew) and his goons. Once the BJP government
Fight Bhatija first before Didi. I challenge Amit Shah to compete with Bhatija and take his name. You have to prove what wrong he has done. Otherwise, your son cannot be spared also from the allegations of corruption. You cannot abuse others while keeping your son hidden.
— Mamata Banerjee
comes to existence, all graft cases will be investigated and whoever ate the money for the poor people of Bengal will be sent to the custody of the law."
Warning the goons of the TMC at the launch of the fifth and final Rath Yatra of the BJP, he said, "I ask the goons, patronised by Mamatadi, go into hiding wherever you want to. You will be found out in patal and put you behind bars.”
Ms Banerjee hit back and targeted Mr Shah’s son, Jay Shah. "Every day you (Shah) raise 'nephew' issue. Your son is earning crores of money. How?
Your son will also not be spared.”
Addressing a rally at Pailan, the TMC supremo said, "Fight Bhatija first before Didi. I challenge Amit Shah to compete with Bhatija and take his name. You have to prove what wrong he has done. Otherwise, your son (Jai Shah) cannot be spared also from the allegations of corruption. You cannot abuse others while keeping your son hidden. We will come to power with a havoc majority by breaking our past records since 2011.”
The Union home minister assured of a tight security arrangement for Assembly polls, adding, “I can guarantee that not even a single goon of the TMC will be seen on the road on polling days. You can cast your vote without any fear.”
To woo voters with sops, Mr Shah announced that the BJP, after forming its government, would implement the seventh pay commission for state government employees, more than 33 per cent reservation for women in state government jobs, a fishermen welfare scheme in line with the PM Kishan Samman Nidhi, a seafood processing hub, a cultural and tourist project at Gangasagar and zero casualty task force to tackle natural calamities including cyclones and storms in the state.
Actor Hiran Chatterjee, who was in the TMC, joined the BJP in presence of Mr Shah at his rally.