Union home minister Amit Shah on Sunday accused Mamata Banerjee of coming in the way of the Centre’s attempt to ensure a minimum income for farmers in Bengal.
Shah’s comments came against the backdrop of the farm protest at Delhi’s borders that has made an invigorating turnout after the Republic Day setback.
In a virtual address to BJP supporters who had gathered at Dumurjola stadium in Howrah, Shah tried to turn the tables on the Bengal chief minister who has vowed support to the protesting farmers.
Shah said the Centre was unable to send money to farmers in the state because the Bengal government had not shared the names and account details of farmers who qualified for the Centre’s PM Kisan scheme.
“She was opposing the scheme…. A few days ago, Mamatadidi wrote to us that her government was willing to implement the scheme. But whom are you fooling Didi? We need a list of farmers and their bank account details with the letter. You’ve sent nothing. You are again trying to fool the farmers by sending only a letter. If Modiji wants to send money, how will he do it?” Shah asked while addressing the crowd from New Delhi.
The Union home minister was supposed to be physically present at Sunday’s rally, but could only join virtually since he had to cancel his tour in the aftermath of a blast near the Israel embassy in Delhi. Union minister of textiles Smriti Irani replaced Shah at the venue, a day after the BJP had inducted several Trimanul leaders to its fold.
A chartered plane had been sent to fly Trinamul turncoats Rajib Banerjee, Baishali Dalmia, Prabir Ghoshal, Rathin Chakraborty and Parthasarathi Chattopadhyay to Delhi on Saturday afternoon.
All the five former Trinamul members and actor Rudranil Ghosh, who also switched to the BJP, were present at Sunday’s rally, which the party had hyped as a mega joining rally.
Former Trinamul minister Suvendu Adhikari, who had earlier joined the BJP, was also present at the rally.
BJP sources, however, said Shah’s physical absence took the sheen off the rally, which according to the party was attended by barely 15,000 people.
The Union home minister tried his best to enthuse the crowd by attacking the Mamata government.
“The BJP workers of Bengal will visit the houses of the farmers in the state and make them understand that Mamata Banerjee is not allowing them to receive money sent by Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he said.Sources in the state government said the allegation by Shah didn’t hold ground, referring to the communication between Nabanna and New Delhi that the state government would verify the details of the farmers who had applied for the central scheme online. Under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, all farmers, except those paying income tax, are supposed to get an annual sum of Rs 6,000 from the union government.