Barrackpore (WB), April 7 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the ruling Trinamool Congress, accusing them of pursuing "politics of appeasement", encouraging infiltration for electoral gains, and allowing Bengal to descend into a state of "misrule and corruption".
Addressing an election rally in Barrackpore in the North 24 Parganas district, Singh also sought to connect with Bengali voters by invoking the legacy of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, promising that a BJP government in the state would transform the noted writer's ancestral home into a world-class tourist destination.
The senior BJP leader alleged that the TMC government had divided society along caste, religious, and sectarian lines, and that politics should instead be based on "justice, humanity, and equality".
"Mamata ji, I want to suggest something. Engage in politics, but not politics of appeasement. Politics should be based on satisfaction, not appeasement," he said at the Barrackpore rally.
"You have divided society along caste, religion, and sectarian lines. Politics should not be based on caste or religion. Politics should be based on justice and humanity, on justice and equality," the senior BJP leader stated.
Stepping up the BJP's criticism of illegal immigration, Singh claimed that Banerjee was unwilling to stop infiltration because she viewed infiltrators as a political constituency.
"As far as infiltrators are concerned, I can confidently say that Mamata ji does not want to stop them because she sees them as her vote bank," he said.
The Defence Minister stated that during his tenure as Union Home Minister, the Centre had sought land from the state government for the BSF to build a fence along the border, but this request had not been fulfilled.
"When I was the Home Minister, we had requested land so that the BSF could build a fence along the border. But the land was not given. Only now has some land perhaps been allocated," he said.
In one of his sharpest attacks on the ruling party, Singh said if anyone asked him what TMC stood for, he would say it meant "Total Misrule and Corruption".
"Looting and murder are happening continuously in West Bengal. Mamata ji, what is your vision for this state? Compared to other states of India, you have pushed Bengal backward," he said.
Referring to the gherao of judicial officers in Malda and the subsequent observations of the courts, Singh claimed that even judicial officers had been targeted under the TMC regime.
"Even judicial magistrates were held hostage here. There is no such government in the history of India or the world. The Supreme Court itself said that this was a planned and deliberate action," he said.
Singh also revived the controversy surrounding the alleged protocol breach during President Droupadi Murmu's visit to the state last month, claiming that the ruling party's mindset "insults tribals while glorifying infiltrators".
"Even the President of India, the highest constitutional authority, was not spared. She was not treated with the dignity she deserved. A TMC minister had once made a very derogatory and shameful remark about the President. I cannot even repeat those words," he said.
The BJP leader also criticized Banerjee for her defeat in the Nandigram assembly seat in the 2021 elections, stating that it was a warning from the people of the state.
"In the last election, Mamata ji lost from her own (Nandigram) seat. The people of Bengal had given her a warning. Last time, you lost your own seat. This time, TMC is going to be wiped out from all of Bengal," he said.
Contrasting the Centre's vision for Bengal with what he described as the TMC government's failures, Singh said that the Narendra Modi government wanted to bring industries, jobs, and investment to the state.
"We want to bring industry to Bengal, increase people's incomes, and bring more investment. Not only should people from Bengal invest here, but people from India should also invest here, and people from all over the world should come and invest in West Bengal, so that our youth can get employment opportunities," he said.
Singh sought to combine the BJP's political pitch with an appeal to Bengali pride and cultural nationalism.
He said that a BJP government in Bengal would develop Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay's ancestral home into a world-class tourist destination, asserting that the author of 'Vande Mataram' deserved global recognition.
"The house of Bankim Babu will be developed as a tourist spot by a BJP government. People will not only come from every corner of India to see it, but people from all over the world will visit Bankim Babu's house once it becomes a tourist destination," he said.
Invoking Chattopadhyay's legacy, Singh said that the iconic song 'Vande Mataram' had united Indians across regions and inspired generations of freedom fighters during the independence movement.
"Bankim Babu did not just light a lamp; he lit the torch of revolution across the whole of India. Vande Mataram gave people the energy to struggle and the passion to fight against British injustice," Singh said.
The Defence Minister alleged that successive Left Front and TMC governments had neglected Chattopadhyay's legacy and failed to accord due respect to 'Vande Mataram'.
He further alleged that so-called secular forces had "distorted" the patriotic song by allowing only parts of it to be sung.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP government were the first to give Bankim Babu's legacy and Vande Mataram the respect they deserve," he said.
Singh also highlighted the BJP's decision to field Sumitra Chatterjee, a descendant of Chattopadhyay who recently joined the party, from the Naihati assembly constituency.
Seeking to woo state government employees, Singh said that a BJP government in Bengal would implement the Seventh Pay Commission.
He later held a roadshow in support of the candidates.
