Money looted from poor in Bengal to be returned: PM
Modi speaks to BJP’s Krishnanagar candidate Amrita Roy, who is pitted against Mahua Moitra; Trinamool leadership objects to PM’s remarks, calls it a violation of the Model Code of Conduct
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said he was exploring legal options to ensure that nearly ₹3,000 crore allegedly “looted” from poor people in West Bengal and attached by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) was returned to them.
Mr. Modi made these remarks while speaking to the BJP’s candidate from Krishnanagar, Amrita Roy, over telephone.
“In a phone call with Rajmata Amrita Roy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he is exploring legal options to ensure that the money looted from the poor goes back to them through whatever assets and money ED has attached from the corrupt,” a BJP leader said.
In the conversation, Mr. Modi told the BJP candidate to tell people about the conversation she had with him.
BJP supporters wear masks of the PM during a public meeting ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha election.
Expressing hope that the people of the State would vote for his party Mr. Modi said, “On one hand, BJP is committed to uprooting corruption in the country and on the other hand, all the corrupt have come together to save each other.”
Model Code violation
The Trinamool Congress leadership objected to the remarks of the Prime Mi
nister and said that the proposal to return money to the people was a violation of the Model Code of Conduct.
Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy said the Prime Minister cannot announce any policy decisions when the Model Code of Conduct was in place.
The Trinamool leader also added that the Prime Minister was commenting on cases which were judice.
Ms. Roy, who hails from the Nadia Royal family, is pitted against Mahua Moitra of the Trinamool Congress.
This is the second occasion that Mr. Modi has dialled a BJP candidate from West Bengal.
On Tuesday, he spoke to Rekha Patra, the party’s candidate from Basirhat, and called her a symbol of Shakti. Ms. Patra hails from Sandeshkhali.
Amid reports that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had summoned Ms. Moitra, the Trinamool Congress leadership came to her defence and said that these summons were part of a political vendetta.
“First they expelled her from Parliament without giving her a fair chance and now agencies are issuing summons to her. Mahua will win elections whatever tricks the BJP might try,” Trinamool Congress spokesperson Sukhendu Sekhar Ray said.
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