Taking a dig at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over her recent injury at Nandigram, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said that she was in pain after the injury but she is unaware of the pain of the family members of BJP workers killed in Bengal.
While addressing a rally in the Ranibandh area of Bankura district, Shah alleged that more than 130 BJP workers were killed in Bengal but the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo was aloof to the sufferings of their mothers.
“Didi, you have hurt your foot. You were in pain. I wish you a speedy recovery. But what about the pain of the mothers of more than 130 BJP workers who were murdered by TMC cadres? Have you ever felt their pain? Those who got murdered were they not someone’s brother or sister?” asked Shah.
Asking Mamata if these BJP workers did not feel pain when they died, Shah said that the people will give her a befitting reply in the Assembly elections. “Didi, you were aloof to the pain of the people. They will teach you a lesson in the Assembly elections,” said Shah.
He also said that the TMC was claiming that the incident at Nandigram was an attack and conspiracy against Mamata, but the Election Commission said that it was not an attack.
"Only God knows what is the truth," said Shah.
Shah sought to woo the tribal voters in the state and vowed that if voted power, the BJP will spend Rs 100 crore on tribal development in Bengal. He also promised that after coming to power, the BJP government in Bengal will buy 49 forest products at minimum support price and 39,000 hectares of land will be irrigated. He also promised to build model schools for tribals across the state.
Accusing the TMC of asking for "cut money" (bribe) to access government schemes and services, Shah said that tribals have to pay a bribe of Rs 100 for each cast certificate. “But the situation will change after the BJP comes to power in Bengal. Now TMC asks for cut money even when it comes to issuing cast certificate. When the BJP comes to power this will stop and cast certificates will be delivered to the doorstep of tribals,” said Shah.
He also said that after coming to power in Bengal, the BJP government will ensure salary hike of school teachers by setting up a committee.
Earlier in the day, Shah delivered a brief virtual speech in Jhargram district after he was unable to reach there in person due to technical problem with his helicopter.