Call for action as ‘goli maro’ slogan sparks row
Video surfaces on the day Shah addresses a rally in Kolkata’s Shaheed Minar, strongly defending the CAA; home minister says BJP will get two-thirds majority in W. Bengal assembly polls
A controversy erupted on Sunday after a video went viral showing a group of people carrying BJP flags and going in a procession in central Kolkata raising the provocative “goli maro” slogan.
The video surfaced on a day Union Home Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah addressed a rally in central Kolkata’s Shaheed Minar Maidan where he strongly defended the citizenship ( Amendment) Act (CAA).
The group of processionists shown in the short video clip was heard saying “’Desh ke Gaddaro Ko, Goli Maro s*** ko.’”
The inflammatory slogan was first chanted at a public rally addressed by Shah and BJP leader Anurag Thakur on Jan.27 in Delhi’s Rithala area.
Many of those who uploaded the clap gave the caption: “’Goli maro’ slogan by BJP supporters going to @Amitshah rally at Shahid Minar in Kolkata today.(sunday).”
Some local media houses have also uploaded the clip on their portal.
IANS, however, was not in a position to judge the authenticity of the video, which has also been posted on the streaming side Youtube.
The Left and the Congress sharply criticised the BJP for the slogan and demanded the Mamata Banerjee government take strong action” against those raising it.
“After the violence in Delhi, this slogan has now made its way to Kolkata. While no other party is being permitted to hold any meeting using microphones, an exception was made by the Mamata government for Shah.
“Now we find the BJP workers went to the extent of raising the agoli maro’ slogan i the heart of the city. The state government must identify those raising the slogan and take punitive action,” said Left Front legislature party leader and CPI-M lawmaker Sujon Chakraborty.
Congress MLA Manoj Chakraborty said: “BJP is leading the country towards doom, They are raising this slogan even in Kolkata. Mamata Banerjee must see to it these people are arrested and sent to jail.”
Meanwhile, targeting Mamata and her nephew Abhishek, Shah on Sunday said a son of the soil and no shahazada (prince) would become the state chief minister after next year’s assembly polls, in which the BJP would get a “two-thirds majority.”
“Before the Lok Sabha polls, Mamata didi used to say our candidates will lose their deposits. But for the first time we won 18 of the 42 seats in the state. Mamata didi can see the figures. In the coming assembly polls also, the BJP will get an absolute majority... a two-thirds majority and form the government,” the senior BJP leader said addressing his first public rally in Bengal after the last year’s general elections.
Shah said he has seen a lot of political changes in his public career.
“In 2014, the BJP got only 87 lakh votes. In 2019, you showered your love and affection and supported us. We got 2.30 crore votes. I am confident that our march cannot be stopped,” he said.
Making the mood upbeat at the start of his speech, Shah raised the ‘Bharat Mata ki jai’ slogan, and asked the crowd to repeat it in chorus avery loudly “so that it reaches the ears of all those opposed to the new citizenship law CAA.”
“You must be louder. How can you ensure ouster of Mamata didi’s government in this way?” he wondered, and then referred to the citizenship (Amendment) Act.
In fact, one of the prime reasons for Shah’s rally was to give a boost to his party’s campaign backing the law.
“Modi has given citizenship to lakhs of people,” he reminded the audience.
Taking on Mamata Banerjee for promoting parivarvad (family rule) by ‘ trying to anoint’ Abhishek - now a Trinamool MP and one its prominent leaders - as her successor, Shah said such things cannot be done in Bengal.
“No shehzada (prince) will become the next Bengal chief minister. A son of the soil will be the next chief minister,” said Shah, without naming Abhishek. The CAA issue which has generated much political acrimony in Bengal, with the Banerjee-led Trinamool, as also the Left and the Congress going all out to oppose it.