Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday alleged that the BJP was “trying to kill us”.
Abhishek, who reached Malda, a district with over 50 per cent Muslim population, to address a public meeting on Tuesday, said: “The BJP only fears Trinamool. The party has put in efforts to thwart us and has even engaged central agencies like the ED (Enforcement Directorate) and the CBI. Now, they are planning to kill us. I don’t feel intimidated as people are with us....”
On Monday, officials of the special task force of Kolkata Police, divulged the arrest of Rajaram Rege from Mumbai. Rege, they said, had done a recce of Abhishek’s residence and offices and tried to call him and his personal assistant on their cell phones.
Rege is known for his links with David Headley, the prime accused of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack.
Earlier in the day, Abhishek in Gossainpur, Siliguri, termed prominent campaigners of BJP as “migratory birds”.
“These people are migratory birds that come to Bengal ahead of polls to make false promises. Because of visits of such outsiders, the votes of the BJP will decline in every Lok Sabha constituency of the state. Only after the BJP leaves will achhe din come to India,” he said.
For the Darjeeling seat which Trinamool has never won, and the BJP thrice since 2009, Abhishek played the “son of the soil” card.
“We have fielded Gopal Lama, who is from this region. The BJP has always fielded outsiders who have done nothing for you. I had challenged the prime minister to publish a white paper to counter my claim that since 2021 no funds have been provided for the housing scheme. Over a month has passed but the BJP has not come up with any document,” he said.
Like Mamata, he said that Trinamool would win in Cooch Behar, Alipurduars and Jalpaiguri which voted on April 19.
“People have done a surgical strike. The BJP will realise it on June 4,” said the MP.
In Malda, where Abhishek campaigned for Malda South candidate Shahnawaz Ali Raihan, he claimed that according to the Assembly poll results of 2021, his party would win by a huge margin.
The BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari, in Siliguri on Tuesday, mocked the claims. “Both aunt and nephew are rattled. That is why they are making baseless remarks,” said Adhikari.
