Kolkata : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee — who was criticised over the controversy regrading “cut money” tried to pass the ball in BJP’s court, at the Martyr’s Day rally on Sunday saying that the saffron party is creating all furore. The party should return all the “black money” that it promised to return to every Indian in its manifesto before 2014 elections.
Addressing the rally in Kolkata, Banerjee said: “I spoke about returning the cut money for a noble purpose, and I am asking the BJP to return the black-money to the people that you promised. Give Rs 15 lakh to every people’s bank that you promised.”
While Banerjee accused the BJP on various occasions, her latest jibe came when she said that the party has decided to ply less trains so that people could not attend her rally.
TMC AGENDA FOR 21 RALLY 2019
This year 21 July rally main agenda is the demand for the return of ballot instead of EVM . On Sunday chief minister Mamata Banerjee said that from now onwards she will urge the state election commission to conduct panchayat election , municipality election in ballot instead of EVM .Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had already alleged earlier that EVM’s were tampered and the programmed , which led BJP to secure maximum seats . She has also demanded a probe on this regard.
Interestingly on Sunday Banerjee also said that she won’t join any party as she has founded the Trinamool Congress.
Her statement comes in the backdrop of Opposition claim that after massive jolt in the Lok Sabha election TMC party will no longer continue to exist.
“I will stay in this party as I have founded the party and I rubbished all allegations levelled against me on chances of joining another party. Our party is a national party, and we will take all steps to strengthen our party ’ Banerjee said.
According to Banerjee, they will organize a protest meeting “Black money Phiriye Dao”on July 26 in every block of the state, where the workers of TMC will demand a return of the black money from the BJP leaders . We have documents about BJP asking for cut money for implementing schemes like UJALA , LPG cylinders.
Martyr’s Day rally lost enthusiasm
Incidentally, this is the first rally of Banerjee after the Lok Sabha polls which was rather a lackluster with Mamata’s speech lacking much directive and thunder to boost morale of the party before the Assembly elections.
A senior MLA of TMC from Joynagar said, “This is the first Marty’s day rally after the Lok Sabha polls and it’s devoid of the enthusiasm and exuberance that is commonly seen in martyrs rally that is held every year since 1993. Although it’s a Sunday but the warmth and the exuberance was missing in this year’s rally.”
Although a section of party leaders feel that the crowd was thinner partly because of Sunday, and also the Ministry of Railways deliberately decided to run few trains so that party workers cannot come on the spot, this year around 5 lakh people attended the rally.
On one hand, while Banerjee has decided to organise a series of rallies in the next three months, she herself at times urged the party members not to get swayed away by BJP’s money power. She herself urged the voters at 21 July rally to have faith in TMC as the party does not induge in rioting and the government is taking steps to attract more investment.
Mamata announced series of rallies in the upcoming three months
Apart from the scheduled celebrations organised by TMC , the party supremo today claimed that they will host a series of programmes so that they could try to increase the contacts with the people they have already lost.On July 29, Banerjee also announced a booth-level programme . The workers will visit every household in every block in the state and will try to gauge the sentiment of the people. On August 15, the TMC will organise Raksha Bandhan Day and all communities will tie Rakhis as a gesture of peace . July 27 is Nanur Dibas. From August 9-14, TMC will organise ‘Bharat Chhoro’ agitation against the BJP. On August 14, midnight onwards TMC will celebrate the Independence Day . The TMC will also celebrate 200th birth anniversary celebrations of Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar. The day will be celebrated at the booth level in all districts. On October 2, the TMC will celebrate Gandhiji’s 150th birth anniversary.
Banerjee also accused the BJP of horse-trading and said they have already purchased MLAs from Goa, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Didi even accused the CPI(M) and claimed that the harmads(goons) have now become BJP goons . She also claimed that BJP leaders are threatening the TMC leaders, falsely alleging them of chit funds.
“I have received reports from a senior MLA of ours who wanted to join the BJP during the Lok Sabha polls. They offered him Rs 2 crore and also wanted to give ownership to a petrol pump. But that MLA refused to accept the bribe. This is their culture . We are against violence and gundagardi. But the BJP is making people point fingers at us with false information and rigged incidents. But what is happening in UP, Rajasthan, Tripura? In UP, the BJP stopped Priyanka Gandhi and our delegation. Here, when Section 144 is imposed, the BJP comes in hordes to create trouble”.Banerjee added.
According to BJP, if she has received such a complaint she should immediately take steps against us .
Dilip Ghosh, BJP state president, said: ”If Banerjee has received such a complaint then she should investigate the matter and arrest the culprits. The police administration is under her jurisdiction . Why is she delaying the process. The sheen and enthusiasm of 21 July has lost as Banerjee is aware that she is losing control over her people. In 2021 Assembly elections TMC will be no more.”
Chief Minister’s call to both CPI(M) and Congress to become united in their fight against BJP
On Sunday, at the CM’s rally, Banerjee again reiterated the call to both CPI(M) and Congress to become united in their fight against BJP
“You don’t have to come on board with TMC, but you just fight BJP because its our common enemy.” Banerjee added.
Sujan Chakraborty, CPI(M) leader, said: “We will fight the atrocities of BJP. But we would like to tell TMC that if they received any evidence that CPI(M) goons have joined hands with BJP , why she stopped from taking any action earlier . We know that Banerjee has a habit of telling lies and she told this fact as she is aware that she is losing contact from people.”
Tweet of AITC regarding the 21 July rally
Political analyst Imankalyan Lahiri said: “It was a Mamata Banejee swaying between deep agony from the results of the recently concluded general election and the street fighter rising to call upon her cadres to fight back, seen during the annual gathering to remember the martyrs of 21 July 1993. It was a somewhat confused Mamata, uncharacteristically apologetic at times, trying to bring back the aggression and also single-mindedly attacking the BJP, the main opposition now. She went on to clarify her motive behind ‘cut money return’ call and tried to change the course by asking her people to change the course by asking BJP to return the ‘money’. While trying to label BJP as outsiders, she tried to incite bengali pride and history to enthuse her supporters. She kept jumping, rather quickly, from elaborating successes of her Gov’t to ill doings of BJP. She declared to have massive contact programme over next 3 months. But her call to reach left and Congress workers and convince them to join TMC speaks loudly of the desperation and sense of doom she is staring at. The take away is her plan to vouch for paper ballots instead of EVM and rather mellowed down inspirational push that TMC will bounce back. It was a changed Mamata. Whether this change is well thought of or out of compulsion, only time will tell.