New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Friday that West Bengal’s ruling Trinamool Congress had angered the people of the country for abusing women in Sandeshkhali where party strongman Sheikh Shahjahan stands accused of rape and land grab.
At a rally in Arambagh, Modi ridiculed the Trinamool’s slogan ‘Ma, Mati, Manush’ (mother, land and people), and said those who banged that drum had also made people sad. “Raja Ram Mohan Roy’s soul must be weeping at this,” the Prime Minister said, invoking the 19th century reformer known for his efforts to abolish sati and child marriage.
Modi said the Trinamool was a “big hurdle” in the empowerment of the poor, the farmers, youth and women. “Bengal cannot go forward unless these people are removed,” he said, rattling off several central initiatives to boost growth for women.
He mentioned the passing of the Women’s Reservation Bill, giving rural women training in flying drones, and also the national government’s resolve to create three crore lakhpati didis.
“A while ago, I got the opportunity to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of projects worth over Rs 7,000 crore here. These projects are related to rail, port, petroleum and Jal Shakti,” Modi said, congratulating the people of Bengal.
He said Bengal had been the source of inspiration for the country’s freedom movement, and lauded the “strong leadership it had provided against slavery”.
“It was the dream of every child here that India touches new heights of development,” Modi said.
“But your chief minister (Mamata Banerjee) protects the corrupt. She also wants to loot money from central government schemes. But Modi will not allow this to continue. That is why the Trinamool considers Modi its Enemy No. 1. I ask you today, should I allow their loot to go on?. Should I let them do what they do? Is this not your hard-earned money? Should I let them loot your money?”
Modi said it was his “guarantee and promise” that the money looted from the people of Bengal would be returned. “Modi will not let them be, nor is he afraid of their attacks, nor will he stop,” the Prime Minister said. “This is Modi’s guarantee.”
Modi also took a jibe at the many scams that have tainted Trinamool ministers, several of whom are in jail. Sheikh Shahjahan of Sandeshkhali — a riverine area in North 24 Parganas — is accused in one such, the ration scam in which at least Rs 10,000 crore has been appropriated, according to the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
Heavyweight cabinet minister Jyotipriya Mallick, who was reportedly a mentor of Shahjahan, is in jail in connection with this alleged scam.
Shahjahan was on the run since 5 January after villagers assaulted a team of ED officers on their way to probe him for the ration scam. A month later, women came out in scores, accusing Shahjahan and his henchmen of rape, sexual harassment and seizing land to convert them into fisheries.
The Trinamool leader was arrested by the police in the early hours of Thursday after being on the run for 55 days. With two ED cases hanging on the 42-year-old, Shahjahan was caught in connection with the 5 January attack on central officers.
Also read: Sandeshkhali: Shajahan Sheikh arrested after being on run for 55 days, suspended from TMC