Kolkata, Oct 1 : Taking a potshot at the BJP, Trinamool Congress National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Sunday said, ” They want to snatch our right to even protest against their atrocities’.
“From cancelling our train and flight to Delhi to deny permission for a meeting with the Union Minister, they have tried everything to stop us from our protest, ” he alleged.
“Around 15-20 days ago, we sought an appointment to meet Union Minister Giriraj Singh but he told us that he was not available for the meeting and would not be able to meet a delegation of Trinamool leaders’, Banerjee added.
However, four BJP MPs were called to Delhi for a meeting with Union Minister Giriraj Singh, and this proves that he is in Delhi and doesn’t want to meet Trinamool leaders or elected representatives of the people, he mentioned.
“Instead, he is meeting BJP leaders. With this, their step-motherly attitude towards Bengal is exposed yet again. This is not the first time he has refused to meet Trinamool leaders. In April, a delegation of 25 Trinamool MPs had arrived at his office to discuss the fund blockade issue but the Union Minister had not met the leaders despite being present in his office. ”
This entire incident emphasises yet again that the BJP is blocking Bengal’s rightful due for political reasons, Banerjee stated.
“Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar recently told reporters that there is no point of a protest movement in Delhi. He publicly confirmed that one phone call from him would lead to the disbursal of funds for Bengal, ” he alleged.
While Union Minister Giriraj Singh says that the BJP-ruled Central government has blocked the funds for welfare schemes over some complaints, BJP leader Sukanta Majumdar said that these funds will be released if he makes one single phone call, Banerjee alleged.
“This begs the question: who is the Union Minister being influenced by? ” he asked.
“Through their actions it becomes repeatedly clear that their only objective is to starve the people of Bengal. Despite their best efforts, they have not been able to stop our movement. ”
“People have claimed that the funds have been blocked due to corruption and irregularities. If
anyone has engaged in any corruption, action should be taken against them, ” he stated.
” Political fights should be limited to elections. While we ensured that every resident of Bengal receives the benefits of our welfare schemes, the BJP stopped the funds for development as they lost in Bengal, ” he further said.
“Bengal BJP leaders wrote letters asking the Centre to block Bengal’s funds. Today, they have blood on their hands. An investigation should be conducted and everyone, including Giriraj Singh, should be arrested, ” Banerjee said.
” BJP’s desperate attempts to stop us show they are afraid of us. Those who claim there is no democracy in Bengal have implemented Section 144 across New Delhi district so that AITC
cannot conduct their movement. But this is people’s movement’.
“Even if 1,000 Narendra Modi or 10,000 BJP leaders come to stop us, they will fail. This fight is not limited to the protests on 2nd and 3rd October but will continue until the funds are released, ” he thundered.
“They (BJP) are thinking that they will remain in power forever. If they think that they will
torture and deprive the people of their rights, people will give a befitting answer democratically. ”
” I will be taking the 100 letters that I have received which state that corruption related to MGNREGA was reported in Assam as well. But did they halt the funds for Assam? No. Why only Bengal? ” he asked.
They collect Rs 1 lakh crore from Bengal through taxes but the state is deprived of Rs. 1.15 lakh
crore of rightful due, the Trinamool Congress leader alleged.
“If they think that they can suppress Trinamool, they are wrong. We will emerge with more strength. Using Delhi police, cancelling trains and flights – nothing can stop our movement. ”
He welcomed everyone, irrespective of their political affiliation, to join the movement.
“This is the fight for the rights of the deprived people. They do not have to support AITC but they
should support the people. We should all be fighting together raising our voices for the people, ” he asserted.
