Abhishek returns Modi fire in Matua heartland

Kolkata: Trinamool national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee finished his election campaign at Nadia's Haringhata on Saturday attacking BJP and claiming how the saffron party had "humiliated and deprived" Matuas by promising them citizenship and jobs.

Hitting out at BJP netas for shedding "crocodile tears" for the community in North 24 Parganas and Nadia, both Matua strongholds, Banerjee said: "BJP MLA Asim Sarkar said if names of Matuas are deleted, that won't be his headache. MLA and Union minister Shantanu Thakur said it will not matter if 1 to 5 lakh Matua names are deleted. Now, compare how TMC has stood by you… from SIR enumeration form fill-up kiosks to the Supreme Court, we have been with you."



Despite having all valid documents, Matua names were forcibly removed from the list, he said. "It was said those who came to India by Dec 31, 2024, would be granted citizenship. However, even those who have been here for 100 years had their names removed by the govt of Asim Sarkar and Shantanu Thakur. The names cleared after ‘logical discrepancy' wouldn't have been possible if CM Mamata Banerjee hadn't moved Supreme Court," he said.

Stressing that TMC will always fight for those whose names were removed, Banerjee, however, reminded that "no relationship is one-sided".

"In Harighanta-Kalyani or Bongaon, whether in 2019, 2021, or 2024, you have repeatedly given opportunities to BJP. Here, both the MLA and MP are from BJP. This is the double engine you were promised. Have you gained anything? It is time to respond to those who betrayed you in their language," Banerjee said.

Urging those whose names have been deleted not to be afraid, he said "after our govt is formed on May 4, by May 31 your names will be enrolled in the voter lists".

Alleging that BJP has "no respect for Bengalis", Banerjee claimed that icons like Subhas Chandra Bose and Swami Vivekananda would also have been served SIR notices if they were alive today.

Addressing another meeting at Dhaniakhali, he said if BJP netas are seen distributing money, people should accept it as it belongs to them. "They (Centre) have deprived us of Rs 1 lakh crore in central dues. Take the money and vote for TMC," he said.

Banerjee claimed that "those who have been chanting Jai Shri Ram since 2014 and mocked our food habits are now campaigning with fish" and reiterated that TMC had already crossed a century in the first phase of polls on April 23.
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