BJP trying to confuse people with wrong info'

Purulia: The ruling Trinamul Congress in West Bengal on Sunday accused the BJP of trying to confuse the people of Purulia district with “wrong information” and disrupting peace in Jangalmahal region.

At a public meeting here, TMC leaders accused the saffron party of bringing in people in huge numbers from Jharkhand and Bihar during BJP president Amit Shah’s June 28 rally to put up a false picture of mass support.

“Mr Shah said at the rally that electricity is available in Purulia for only two hours a day and people have to fetch water five kilometres away from their homes. All these are incorrect,” senior TMC leader Suvendu Adhikary said.

“He (Amit Shah) was misinformed by his party men. Actually they are trying to confuse the people and disturb the peaceful situation of the area. Purulia is a totally changed place since Mamata Banerjee became the chief minister of West Bengal,” he said addressing the meeting.

The TMC organised the meeting at the same ground where BJP chief Amit Shah held a rally three days ago. Senior leaders of TMC Firad Hakim and Sashi Panja, besides Adhikary, addressed the meeting.

At Thursday’s rally, Shah had attacked the TMC government for allegedly unleashing violence in the state and claimed that the people were now hearing sound of bomb blasts instead of songs of Rabindranath Tagore.

Mr Adhikary said, “He (Shah) can hear the sounds of bomb blasts. Does he have any clue about the condition of this region before (TMC chief)  Mamata Banerjee came to power?”

Everyday there were reports of people being murdered in Jangalmahal and it is Ms Banerjee who has brought peace in the area, the senior TMC leader said.

Jangalmahal is the forested area of three adjoining districts — Purulia, Bankura and West Midnapore.

On Mr Shah’s call for winning 22 of West Bengal’s 42 Lok Sabha seats in the 2019 general election, Adhikary said the BJP should first think of how to retain power in New Delhi and then think about conquering Bengal.

“In 2019, we will win 42 out of the 42 seats. The people of West Bengal want a Bengali prime minister,” he said.

Accusing the Centre of stopping funds for almost all public welfare schemes, mid-day meal and Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), Mr Adhikary said the state government has been continuing those schemes on its own despite fund crunch. He also slammed the BJP-led government at the Centre for “failing” to bring back the black money stashed in foreign banks as promised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“Where is the black money? Demonetisation has only helped culprits like Nirav Modi in smuggling funds outside the country and then escaping,” he said.

Senior TMC leader Firad Hakim also accused the BJP of trying to disturb the peaceful atmosphere in Purulia and Jangalmahal. “There was no democracy here during the Left Front rule. Mamata Banerjee brought it back. Peace is prevailing here. The BJP is trying to disrupt that peace. We will not let that happen,” he said.

Incidentally, four tribals from Purulia district, whose houses were visited by Shah on June 28, had recently sought protection from the chief minister, alleging pressure by the saffron party to join the outfit.