‘Amit Shah endorsing coal mafia’
Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Saturday slammed Union Home minister Amit Shah and his party BJP after Shah had received flowers from the alleged coal mafia Joydev Khan at Andal Airport on Friday.
Khan was among the BJP’s list of delegates who bade farewell and greeted Shah during his departure from the Andal Airport. Trinamool accused Khan of being a coal mafia.
Accusing Shah of openly supporting coal mafias and endorsing coal smuggling, the ruling party in Bengal raised the question if the coal mafias are enjoying “immunity” from the BJP-led Centre.
It also said that coal is protected by the CISF that monitors the coal mine. How CISF will take action against a “coal mafia” when he bids farewell to the Union Home minister who is in charge of the CISF, TMC asked.
TMC leader Shashi Panja said: “We have been talking about BJP’s washing machine where criminals and anti-socials enjoy protection by the saffron party. BJP’s letterhead of Asansol organisational district carried the names of leaders who greeted Shah. We want to name a few. Lakshman Gharui features in the list at 4th position. The fifth name is of Joydev Khan who has been pictured giving flowers to Amit Shah. We want to talk about these people who are important members of BJP leadership.”
Panja added: “When Dilip Ghosh was BJP’s state president, he had termed Joydev Khan, Rahul Jha, Raju Jha and Lakshman Gharui as social workers and treasure, and inducted them in the BJP before 2021 Assembly elections when the BJP was claiming that they would win 200 seats. These people are established coal mafia who are involved in coal smuggling and illegal activities related to coal.”
Panja also alleged that Union minister Prahlad Joshi enjoyed close proximity with coal mafia Raju Jha and Joydev Khan in 2022 as he had decided to stay in Raju Jha’s bungalow and not in ECL guest house where he could have stayed as a coal minister. “This entire sequence can
be linked,” Panja said.
TMC spokesperson Arup Chakraborty said: “Now we can see that BJP is giving direct immunity to coal mafias. Coal mafias who are involved with numerous illegal activities. For the last 3-4 years, BJP has been trying to spread a narrative on coal, cattle and sand mafia. The chief kingpins of the coal mafia are Raju Jha and Joydev Khan. BJP maintained a suspicious silence when Raju Jha died.”
“Which CISF officer will dare to stop someone from smuggling coal after he is authorised by BJP to see-off and greet Amit Shah? BJP is openly supporting coal mafias and endorsing coal smuggling. Amit Shah is endorsing it,” Chakraborty stated.
Speaking about Sandeshkhali sting video, Panja said: “We are surprised at the way the BJP misled the President of India Droupadi Murmu. Every day, women are showing courage and coming forward to take back their false allegations that they were made to sign under coercion,” Panja stated.
‘Union minister Prahlad Joshi enjoyed close proximity with coal mafia Raju Jha...’