Abhishek Law / Kolkata
Our Bureau
February 8: Prime Minister Narendra Modi dug the poll pitch in West Bengal yet again as he alleged that the Chief Minister was taking to the streets and staging sit-in demonstrations just to protect the corrupt and Ponzi scam accused.
According to Modi, people who had cheated depositors of their money through Ponzi schemes are being defended.
The West Bengal CM took to the streets Sunday night after an unprecedented show-down took place between CBI officials and the state police force over the questioning of Kolkata Police Commissioner, Rajeev Kumar, in relation to a multi-crore Ponzi scheme scam. The stand-off saw police officers lay siege to CBI offices and detaining the officials. It was resolved two hours later, but not before para-military forces were deployed at CBI offices. Following this, Banerjee went on a three-day dharna.
“This is the first for the country that a Chief Minister is sitting on a dharna to defend the corrupt, to save people who looted money from the poor ,” the PM said while speaking at a public rally in Mainaguri – some 600 kms from Kolkata – in the Jalpaiguri district of the state on Friday.
Neither the corrupt; nor those defending the corrupt will be spared, the PM pointed out. “This chowkidaar (gatekeeper) of yours will not be cowed down. Action will be taken against the corrupt and those defending them,” he pointed out.
“Let them sit on dharnas. Let them garner all support. But, they will have to pay for their crimes. Justice will be meted out to those duped,” the PM further added.
Taking a further dig at Banerjee, the PM pointed out that “running of the state was left in the hand of syndicates (extortion cartels)” while the CM was busy thinking about coming to power in Delhi.
In Jalpaiguri, Modi, inaugurated the long-awaited circuit bench of the Calcutta High Court and also laid the foundation stone for a Rs 1938 crore highway project – a four-lane Falakata-Salsalabari section of NH -31D.
Triple Talaq Bill
Modi also took on the Congress and its President, Rahul Gandhi’s recent speech calling for abolition of the Triple Talaq Bill if voted into power.
“The Congress has betrayed all the Muslim women who have been cheated over the years,” Modi said adding that: “I assure the Muslim women that the Triple Talaq law will not be abolished. BJP stands for the rights of women.”
He in fact put up the question up to the WB CM as to why she was opposing the bill. “Mamata Banerjee, you are a lady, then why are you opposing triple talaq bill ,” he added.
Mamata’s re-buttal
West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, was quick to issue a rebuttal. Calling Modi a “corruption-master” and a “Rafalewala”, Banerjee alleged that the Centre had taken no steps towards opening of closed tea-gardens in the state.
“We have taken steps towards development of North Bengal, uplifting conditions of tea garden workers. Even the road project whose foundation stone was laid is a result of our efforts. Ahead of elections, they are claiming credit,” she said.
Banerjee has also made clear her disapproval on being snubbed for the inauguration of the circuit bench of the Calcutta High Court. Although Modi inaugurated the circuit bench today, no invitation was allegedly extended to Banerjee or the state government.
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