A BABRI MOSQUE NOT TO BE ALLOWED IN BENGAL: AMIT SHAH

A BABRI MOSQUE NOT TO BE ALLOWED IN BENGAL: AMIT SHAH

14-APRIL-ENG 6

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

PATNA--------------------------Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated on Monday that Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee and *Aam Janata Unnayan Party* chief Humayun Kabir are "two sides of the same coin." He asserted that if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wins the West Bengal Assembly elections, it will not permit the construction of a Babri Masjid in the state.

Addressing an election rally held in Raniganj—a coal-mining belt in the West Bardhaman district—Shah accused Mamata of opposing the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. He sought to draw a parallel between this stance taken by the Trinamool supremo and Humayun's proposal to build a mosque modeled after the Babri Masjid in Beldanga, Murshidabad.

Humayun, the MLA from Bharatpur in Murshidabad, was suspended from the Trinamool Congress in December last year after proposing the construction of a Babri-style mosque in Bengal. Subsequently, Humayun founded his own political party and is once again contesting the elections from Bharatpur.

Shah remarked, "The Congress, Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress, and other parties such as the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), the Samajwadi Party (SP), and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) had supported keeping Ram Lalla [Lord Ram] in a tent for 550 years."

He added, "After receiving a massive mandate in 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi facilitated the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya—a move that leaders like Mamata opposed. Now, Humayun Kabir—who shares a similar mindset to Mamata—wishes to construct a Babri Masjid in Bengal."

Shah declared that, upon securing victory in the upcoming elections, the BJP would not allow the construction of a Babri Masjid in Bengal. These remarks by the Home Minister are being viewed as an attempt to blunt the attacks launched by the Trinamool Congress regarding a video, in which Humayun was allegedly heard stating that he was in contact with BJP leaders to secure an advance payment of ₹200 crore—part of a ₹1,000 crore deal—aimed at ousting Mamata from power and splitting the minority vote.

Based on the alleged comments made in the video, Mamata alleged on Sunday that the BJP had struck a "₹1,000 crore deal" with Humayun to defeat the Trinamool Congress.

PTI-Bhasha could not independently verify the authenticity of this video.

Addressing election rallies held in Mayureswar and Khairasol in the Birbhum district, Shah asserted that the people of Bengal would answer "bombs" and "bullets" with their votes. He vowed that once the voters "bid farewell to the Trinamool government," the BJP would "hang upside down" those who promote "syndicates and bribery" in order to set them straight.

Shah declared that the formation of a BJP government in Bengal is a certainty, as the people of the state have made up their minds to say "Tata, Bye-Bye" to the Trinamool supremo.

The Home Minister alleged that criminals, emboldened by the Trinamool, have long tormented BJP workers in Bengal. He stated that on May 5—the day after the vote counting—BJP workers would drag their tormentors out of "their safe havens" and bring them to the bar of justice.

Shah remarked, "I advise the Trinamool goons to stay inside their homes on April 23 (the first phase of voting); otherwise, we will pick them up one by one on May 4 and put them behind bars."

Voting in Birbhum is scheduled to take place on April 23 as part of the first phase. Votes for the second phase will be cast on April 29, while the counting of votes will be conducted on May 4. Shah accused Mamata of attempting to "intimidate" the state's majority community. He stated that this election is being contested on the issue of expelling infiltrators.

The Home Minister alleged that under the Trinamool Congress's rule, riots occurred in Murshidabad, attacks were carried out on Ram Navami processions, and permission for Saraswati Puja was denied in certain areas.

Targeting the Trinamool government over the issue of illegal immigration, Shah remarked, "Can the Chief Minister or her nephew (Abhishek Banerjee) expel the infiltrators? Only the BJP can do that."

He added, "Mamata Banerjee is refusing to provide land for fencing the border; instead, she is blaming the Border Security Force (BSF) for the infiltration taking place in Bengal."

Shah stated that within 45 days of assuming power in West Bengal, the BJP would complete the process of allocating 600 acres of land for fencing India's borders adjoining Bangladesh.

He asserted, "Not just from Bengal, we will apprehend infiltrators from across the entire country—one by one—and expel them."

Shah alleged that the previous Manmohan Singh-led central government—which was supported by the Trinamool—never took concrete action against Pakistani terrorists. He remarked, "Instead, they fed biryani to the terrorists."

The Home Minister noted that, in contrast, Prime Minister Narendra Modi ordered 'Operation Sindoor' following the Pahalgam attack and struck Pakistan exactly where it hurt the most.

He stated, "The Modi government has crushed Naxalism within the country, and now the time has come to expel the infiltrators."

Shah claimed that infiltrators were "snatching away jobs from the state's youth, usurping food meant for the poor, and inciting riots."

He reiterated his party's resolve to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Bengal.

Shah stated, "Once the UCC is implemented..." ..after which the practice of some individuals marrying four times will come to an end.”

The Home Minister accused the Trinamool of being embroiled in scams and claimed that the party has embezzled ₹5,000 crore.

Shah also took aim at the Chief Minister over her alleged remarks regarding women's movement in public spaces after sunset.

He stated, “Mamata Banerjee should be ashamed for saying that women ought to stay indoors after 7 PM. We will ensure an environment where women can commute freely on their scooters even at 1 AM.”

Referring to the BJP's election manifesto, Shah promised to implement the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission for government employees within 45 days, provide a monthly allowance of ₹3,000 to women and unemployed youth, ₹21,000 to pregnant women, and ₹2,000 to persons with special needs.

He added, “There will be a 33 percent reservation for women in government jobs; free travel facilities will be provided to women on government buses; and a free health insurance cover of ₹5 lakh will be available under the Ayushman Bharat scheme. We will also increase the annual financial assistance provided to farmers to ₹9,000.”

Shah alleged that Mamata's sole objective is to make her nephew the Chief Minister, whereas, on the other hand, Modiji's goal is to empower the youth of Bengal.

He asserted, “Mamata Banerjee claims that Bengal will be governed from Delhi; I tell her that, following the election results, a son of the soil will become the Chief Minister here—and he will not be from the Trinamool.”