In Bengal, Shah attacks Didi over graft, development record

BJP President Amit Shah on Wednesday trashed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s allegations of the Centre’s non-cooperation and, that of hatching a political conspiracy to frame her party leaders in corruption cases.

“Where is the conspiracy? These aren’t baseless allegations. You can see Trinamool Congress leaders openly take money on camera. And yet you claim that it is a political conspiracy?” Shah said in response to questions relating to the Narada scam.

“Please ask the Chief Minister why her party members were caught taking bribes. Why are you asking me? Shouldn’t the CM be answerable?” he added, while addressing a press conference at the Kolkata Press Club.

Armed with a Supreme Court order, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has recently filed an FIR against 12 TMC leaders and an IPS officer. They were caught on camera, allegedly taking bribes.

“I can proudly say that not one of my party workers have corruption charges levelled against them,” he added.

Shah also rubbished reports of several senior TMC leaders looking to jump ship and join his party.

He said Banerjee had developed “BJP-phobia” and sees the BJP’s handiwork in everything.

“At least she has started acknowledging us. Earlier, her attacks were aimed at the Left and Congress,” he said.

Development parameters Shah went for a no-holds-barred attack on Banerjee over her charges of non-cooperation by the Centre. He, in fact, alleged that Bengal was lagging behind in all parameters under the Trinamool rule.

He pointed out that Bengal’s debt had doubled under Banerjee’s rule — from ₹1.92 lakh crore in 2011, when the Left Front lost power, to ₹3.52 lakh crore presently.

The BJP chief said that the State had accounted for 18 per cent of deposits made in banks earlier; the metric had fallen to 12.8 per cent during the Left Front’s rule and to 6.3 per cent under the present TMC regime.

In terms of economic well-being, every fifth person in the State figured below the poverty line. Compared to the national per capita electricity consumption of 957 units, Bengal’s number stood at 658.

“In BJP-ruled States, the agricultural output growth rate is 10 per cent plus; while in Bengal it is much lower,” Shah alleged.

The BJP chief chose to point out the the rise in grant-in-aid and an increase in State’s share of Central taxes since the Narendra Modi government came to power.

Under the 13th Finance Commission – when UPA was in power – the share of Bengal in State taxes was ₹1,03,539 crore; while under the 14th Finance Commission, during Narendra Modi’s regime, it nearly trebled to ₹2,80,000 crore, he claimed.

Similarly, the State’s revenue deficit grant was upped to ₹11,760 crore from zero during the 13th Finance Commission. The local bodies grant too was upped to ₹20,832 crore (from ₹1,444 crore) in the 14th Finance Commission.

“The BJP-led government has taken a lot of steps to improve the living conditions, increased grants under MGNREGA and also taken steps to stop illegal immigration from Bangladesh. However, the Bengal government has failed to take this development to the grass-roots level,” Shah alleged.

On a three-day-tour of Bengal to strengthen the party and rejuvenate the party workers; Shah today met workers and took out a rally in Banerjee’s Assembly constituency, Bhabanipur. Later in the day, he addressed party workers and intellectuals at a city auditorium.

War of words The BJP chief’s allegations opened up a war-of-words with the Chief Minister – who is currently on an administrative visit to North Bengal – retaliating in kind.

According to Banerjee, the debt-burden was thrust on her by the erstwhile Left Front. In terms of development, the State government has done far better than expected with meagre resources.

“Does he (Shah) have the right figures at all? He is just levelling charges for the sake of it. Show me another State that has done development work especially considering the debt burden that has been imposed on us,” she said.

Use of generic medicines in State-run hospitals and distributing free bicycles to girl children are some of the landmark schemes taken up by the West Bengal government, Banerjee said.

“I work. And then, I talk. I am not like others who keep talking. There is no point telling non-factual lies,” the CM said.

Action against cow vigilantes : Shah Meanwhile, Shah said action was being taken against cow vigilantes and said the law would take its own course.

According to him, action is being taken against such vigilantism and ‘ gau rakshaks’who take the law in their hands. Arrests have also been made.

When asked specifically if such activism was bringing disrepute to the saffron party, he replied in the negative.

“The Constitution (of India) calls for bovine protection,” Shah said, without clearly elaborating on his stand.

Mamata returns fire, defends rule

With BJP chief Amit Shah raising questions over the State’s financial health under the Trinamool Congress rule, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee laid the blame on the erstwhile Left Front government, while also defending her performance given the meagre resources at her disposal.

“Does he (Shah) have the right figures at all? He is just levelling charges for the sake of it. Show me another State that has done development work especially considering the debt burden that has been imposed on us,” she said.

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