Kolkata, 02 April (H.S.): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during an election rally in Suti in Murshidabad district, accusing Union Home Minister Amit Shah of orchestrating a conspiracy in connection with the recent violence in Malda. She also appealed to voters to maintain peace during the election period.

Addressing a public meeting in support of Trinamool Congress candidate Imani Biswas, Banerjee alleged that the BJP was trying to use force to win elections, but asserted that the people of the state would not allow such attempts to succeed. She urged people not to fall prey to provocation or engage in violence.

The Chief Minister said she does not support any form of unrest and emphasized the need to maintain peace in the state. Referring to the recent incidents in Malda, she claimed that her party was not responsible for the violence and suggested that there could be a political conspiracy behind the incidents.

Banerjee further alleged that the BJP and the Central government were attempting to weaken democratic institutions. She claimed that actions by central enforcement agencies and the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls ahead of the elections were being used to create political pressure.

She also claimed that around 40,000 voters’ names had been deleted from the electoral rolls in the Bhabanipur area, including a large number of minorities and women.

Highlighting her government’s welfare initiatives, Banerjee said efforts were ongoing to convert kutcha houses into pucca homes and to provide drinking water to every household. She said one crore families had already been provided with water connections and the remaining households would also be covered.

Banerjee asserted that the Trinamool Congress remains the only viable option to protect the state’s language, culture and social harmony.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh