Rajat Sharma, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of India TV.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently on a stormy election tour of Bihar, Jharkhand and Bengal. In Bengal, Modi has made atrocities on the women of Sandeshkhali and corruption the main issue. Addressing a rally in Bengal’s Arambag on Friday, Modi said, “The entire country is ashamed of what happened to the mothers and sisters of Sandeshkhali.” At a rally in Bengal’s Krishnanagar on Saturday, Modi said Trinamool leaders have mastered the art of turning a “scheme into a scam”. Modi has to be praised for one thing. After finalizing the list of candidates at the BJP headquarters till 3.30 pm on Thursday night, Modi returned home, and reached Jharkhand and then Bengal the next morning. On Friday, Modi spent the night at Raj Bhawan in Kolkata and the next day left for Aurangabad, Patna and Begusarai in Bihar after Krishnanagar. Modi made sharp attacks on Mamata Banerjee in the Arambag rally. First of all he raised the issue of Sandeshkhali and asked how a criminal can stay away from the clutches of the police for 56 days without political protection. Modi said that the women of Sandeshkhali tearfully told the stories of atrocities committed on them but Mamata Banerjee’s heart did not melt. She kept protecting the goons who were committing atrocities and their leader who was occupying the lands of the poor. Modi questioned the silence of Indi Alliance’s allies in the Sandeshkhali issue. Modi said that everyone listened to the women of Sandeshkhali but the leaders of Indi Alliance closed their eyes, ears and mouth. Leave aside asking questions to Mamata Banerjee, the leaders of the parties included in Indi Alliance turned a blind eye towards the women of Sandeshkhali. Didn’t even see it.
In Bengal, Mamata has been accused of Muslim appeasement for many years. The allegation being made is that Sheikh Shahjahan was a Muslim, Mamata was worried about the Muslim vote bank, that is why Sheikh Shahjahan survived for so long. Modi made this an issue and said that respect for women is paramount, in the matter of respect it does not matter whether the woman is Hindu or Muslim. Modi said that even Muslim daughters will not tolerate playing with the honor of women, they will overthrow Mamata Banerjee’s government. Modi also raised the issue of corruption, scams and nepotism happening under Mamata Banerjee’s rule in the Arambag rally. Modi said that Trinamool Congress has created a new model of corruption in West Bengal. Modi said that those who have looted the public in Bengal will have to return the looted property with interest. Modi said that no matter how much someone abuses, he is not afraid, he will keep sending those who loot to jail. Modi’s visit to Arambagh has created panic in Trinamool Congress because Modi has chosen this seat very thoughtfully for his first rally. In the 2019 elections, BJP’s Tapas Roy lost this reserved seat to Trinamool Congress’s Aparupa Poddar by just 1146 votes. In 2014, the Arambagh seat was won by Trinamool Congress but the Left Front candidate was at second position. BJP had come third by a huge margin but this time BJP feels that this seat can be easily won.
The interesting thing is that Trinamool Congress MP Aparupa Poddar has married a Muslim and now her name has become Afreen Ali. Therefore, now there is doubt whether she will be able to contest elections on Dalit quota seat or not. Second, if she contests, she might get a little more Muslim votes but there is a danger of Hindu votes getting cut, hence there is suspense over whether Mamata will field her. That is why BJP has focused on this seat. Apart from this, this time BJP will make Muslim appeasement and atrocities on women a big issue under Mamata’s rule and today Modi focused on these two issues. Asaduddin Owaisi also has his eyes on Bengal. This time Owaisi can field his party’s candidates in Bengal also during the Lok Sabha elections. Owaisi says that Mamata only considers Muslims as a stepping stone to power, Mamta only pays lip service to Muslims, she has done nothing for Muslims. Actually Asaduddin Owaisi is my guest this time in the show “Aapki Adalat”. I asked Owaisi that Mamata Banerjee calls herself the biggest well-wisher of Muslims. On this, Owaisi said bluntly that go to Bengal and see, you will understand the reality. He answered this in detail. You will be able to see the complete answer on Saturday and Sunday at 10 pm. (Rajat Sharma)
Watch: ‘Aaj Ki Baat with Rajat Sharma’ full episode of March 01, 2024
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