KHARAGPUR/HOWRAH: Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of canvassing for Bengal votes in a foreign country, chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday questioned why his passport and visa shouldn’t be cancelled.
She threatened to move the Election Commission and take the matter to the highest level over how could the PM, after declaration of polls, accompanied by people related to Bengal elections, “speak in favour of votes”.
“You say frequently that Mamata Banerjee has brought everyone from Bangladesh and allowed infiltration. And now you go to the same Bangladesh for vote marketing. Who is right and who is wrong? We need an answer. For this, I will go wherever it takes,” the chief minister said.
“Aapni Banglae vote cholakalin Bangladesh e (You chose to go to Bangladesh during Bengal polls). You tried to lie to a section of people. You have gone to seek votes. Why shouldn’t your visa be cancelled? Why shouldn’t your passport be cancelled? This is a justified demand,” she said, adding that why should the PM be always exempt from the law, while it was applicable for the rest.
“Elections are on in Bengal and you choose to go to Bangladesh and lecture about Bengal. It is a total violation of the election code of conduct. I know this. Law is equal for all and is not discriminatory. Justice is for all,” the CM said.
Banerjee cited the passport and visa cancellation of Bangladeshi actor Ferdous Ahmed before the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. “Can I ask you a question?” she addressed the people at a rally in Kharagpur.
“Ferdous is a film star and he had come from Bangladesh to work in Kolkata. During the last Lok Sabha elections, he had attended an election rally. He told people he was from Bangladesh and wished all well. BJP complained about it. The Indian government spoke to Bangladesh. And later, the Indian government cancelled his passport and visa,” Banerjee said.
“Bangladesh is our friend. Still, they ensured that he could not come to Bengal. Film stars from Bengal and Bangladesh work together. Because he attended a rally, you snatched away his visa.” Alleging that the Prime Minister had done a similar thing in the past as well, the CM said, “Don’t you know, he had also tried to seek votes for Trump. He held meetings in support of Trump.”
Accusing the Union home minister of trying to run the state’s law and order with central forces, she said, “You run the country, do not try to handle Bengal’s law and order.” The CM alleged Uttar Pradesh police were being sent to Bengal to threaten and intimidate voters in booths.
At a rally in the Kharagpur railway township, vowing to protect workers from eviction, Banerjee said if the BJP transferred any railway worker, the ruling government would transfer the party itself.
“There is no profit from making threats. I know railways better than others. They say they will evict people from railway land. It is not so easy. No one will be evicted from railway land. They already did it in Siliguri and tried it in Bankura, but I did not let them. The Bengal cabinet has already resolved that there can be no eviction without proper rehabilitation, and if they try it, the state will not give them any support,” Banerjee said.
“There are plans to sell and privatise the railway. How many railway workers will be left? Kharagpur is a rail town, 90% of which comes under railway area. If railways are sold, your jobs will be wiped out. What will you eat?”