Kolkata, April 3 Senior TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee on Friday accused the Narendra Modi government of causing hardship to people through the "mismanagement" of issues such as LPG supply, demonetisation, SIR hearings, and the lockdown.
Addressing an election rally in West Bengal's Purulia district in support of party candidate Arjun Mahato from the Joypur Assembly seat, Banerjee alleged that prices of essential commodities have risen sharply under the current dispensation.
"The prices of LPG cylinders have risen from Rs 400 to Rs 1,000, milk from Rs 28 to over Rs 60, kerosene from Rs 14 to Rs 40. The prices of all essential commodities have skyrocketed," he claimed.
"The Modi government only forces people to stand in long queues – from LPG dealer camps to SIR hearing camps, from bank branches and ATMs after demonetisation. It never thinks about the agony and misery of the people," he said.
Banerjee also referred to the days of the lockdown, which "was declared by the Modi government in an unplanned manner," and how it compounded the misery of thousands of migrant workers from Bengal who were stranded at their workplaces due to the sudden shutdown and had great difficulty in returning.
Alleging that the BJP was trying to control the Election Commission and influence the elections in West Bengal in their favour, the Diamond Harbour MP said, "They (BJP) have the remote control, but we have the EVM button which they cannot take away from us."
Accusing BJP MP Jyotirmoy Singh Mahato of "doing little to improve the living conditions of the electors in the Purulia Lok Sabha constituency," Banerjee said, "I dare both Mahato and the local BJP MLA, Narahari Mahato, to submit a breakdown of the projects they have implemented for the people."
"If you can prove even 10 paise that you have managed to secure from Modi, I will never ask for votes for TMC from here anymore. Let there be an open debate where you and I will sit face to face on a stage," he added.
Listing the initiatives of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for the poor, he said, "Despite the Centre blocking funds under the PM Awas Yojana, our CM has mobilized funds for the 'Banglar Bari' project and already 32 lakh families have received homes."
"From building roads under the Pathashree project to supplying clean drinking water to households, the Mamata Banerjee government has undertaken a slew of development projects in the district, including Joypur," he added.
Banerjee wanted to know what happened to Mahato's earlier election promise to build a super specialty hospital in the area, as people have to rush to Jhalda and Purulia for medical needs.
"We have been in power in West Bengal for 15 years, and our chief minister delivers on every promise. The BJP, which has been in power at the Centre for 12 years, should present its report card. What about their promise of Rs 14 lakh in every bank account that Modi made during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls?" he said.
"The BJP is in power in 15 states. I challenge them – implement even one scheme like Mamata Banerjee's Lakshmir Bhandar in any state," Banerjee said.
The elections to the 294-member West Bengal assembly will be held in two phases – on April 23 and 29. Votes will be counted on May 4.