Kolkata, 10 March (H.S.): Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the Mamata Banerjee-led government in West Bengal while addressing a public meeting in South 24 Parganas as part of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Parivartan Yatra. He said the yatra is not merely a political programme but a call for decisive change in the state.

Addressing the gathering, Saini said people of West Bengal must unite to free the state from corruption and what he termed as “appeasement politics” and bring about a political transformation by removing the Trinamool Congress government from power.

He said Bengal is a culturally rich state and its land and people are a matter of pride for the entire country. Referring to the historic legacy of the region, Saini said the sacred land of Bengal had given the nation the immortal song “Vande Mataram”.

Highlighting the condition of people in South 24 Parganas, he mentioned the struggles of fishermen and farming families who work hard every day for their livelihood but are unable to access basic facilities due to the alleged failures of the state government. He also referred to the natural disasters faced by residents of the district every year and alleged that people had been cheated in the name of relief and rehabilitation. According to him, many families lost their homes and boats in disasters but the benefits meant for victims were misappropriated.

Saini further said unemployment has left the youth of Bengal deeply worried and forced many to migrate to other states in search of work. He stressed that the situation must change so that young people can find opportunities within their own state.

He alleged that Bengal, which once showed the way to the entire country, is now trapped in corruption, appeasement politics and violence. Questioning the current situation, Saini said freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for the country could never have imagined such a scenario. He added that Bengal is once again ready to fight for its freedom.

The Haryana Chief Minister also accused the state government of merely renaming welfare schemes instead of carrying out real development, which, he claimed, is pushing the state towards poverty. He alleged that the Trinamool Congress government has weakened democratic institutions and turned Bengal into a safe haven for infiltrators, which, according to him, is the reason the state government opposes the Citizenship Amendment Act.

Saini further alleged that the Chief Minister has problems with communities such as the Matua and Namasudra and also objects to religious festivals like Ram Navami. He claimed that even slogans of “Jai Shri Ram” are opposed. He also accused the state government of preventing Central government schemes from reaching people and standing as a barrier between citizens and their rights. Saini also alleged that despite being a woman leader, Mamata Banerjee had insulted the President of India.

Meanwhile, speaking at a public meeting in Chandrakona, Bihar minister Vijay Sinha also called for political change in West Bengal. He alleged that the Mamata Banerjee government is widely known across the country for corruption and minority appeasement, and warned that the state would suffer if the current government remains in power.

In another meeting held in Nabadwip, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya also urged people to support political change in Bengal. He alleged that funds provided by the Central government had been misappropriated by the state government, depriving people of development. Maurya appealed to voters to support the BJP to bring the state on the path of progress.

Addressing a gathering in the Bardhaman region, BJP’s West Bengal state president and Rajya Sabha member Samik Bhattacharya said the end of the Trinamool Congress government in the state is near and described Bardhaman as historically a land of political change. He accused the state government of jeopardising Bengal’s future to protect the vote bank of illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators.

Bhattacharya also alleged that some Trinamool leaders in Murshidabad were issuing threats based on demographic numbers. He raised concerns over alleged irregularities in the voters’ list and claimed that instances had surfaced where a single person was shown as having more than 100 children in official records. He said the BJP’s struggle is not against any religion but for the rights of every Indian citizen and added that lack of development is harming Muslims as well. He also expressed concern over increasing extremist activities in the state.

He further alleged that educated unemployed youths were being forced to survive on as little as ₹50 per day through arrangements linked to the ruling party, while nearly five lakh government posts had disappeared. He also claimed that state government employees were not receiving their legitimate rights.

At another meeting in the Nabadwip region, former BJP state president Rahul Sinha alleged that the Trinamool Congress government wanted to turn West Bengal into “West Bangladesh”. He said the BJP would not allow a single illegal Bangladeshi infiltrator to stay in the state and would identify and deport them.

Sinha also assured that refugees who had come from Bangladesh due to religious persecution would be protected and that every eligible person would be granted Indian citizenship in accordance with the law.

During the Parivartan Yatra, BJP leaders reiterated that if the party comes to power in West Bengal, the state will be made free from illegal infiltration and all infiltrators will be identified and sent back.

The party also pledged strict action against corruption. Leaders said all major scams, including the teacher recruitment scam and ration scam, would be investigated and those responsible would be punished. They added that corruption related to jobs, ration distribution, sand and coal would not be tolerated.

The BJP also promised that if it forms the government in the state, the Seventh Pay Commission would be implemented for all state government employees within 45 days so that their salaries are brought in line with national standards.

Additionally, the party said the practice of “cut money” in jobs would be ended and all vacant government posts would be filled transparently by December 2026. It also promised a five-year age relaxation for candidates who have been waiting for government recruitment examinations for years.

BJP leaders also invited people across West Bengal to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Brigade rally in Kolkata on March 14.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh