West Bengal polls: Only bomb-making industry has flourished in the state, says Rajnath Singh

Garbeta/Bankura (WB): Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said that the situation in West Bengal remained as it was five years ago when Trinamool Congress rode to power with the slogan of ushering in change.

There is no industrial activity now in the state and the only industry that had flourished was bomb-making units, Singh said.

“Before the 2011 Assembly election, TMC had given the slogan for bringing in change and gave the people assurance that it will stop atrocities unleashed by the communists. But after five years of TMC rule, the situation remains unchanged,” he told election meetings in support of BJP candidates.

“People had voted TMC to power after the black night of CPI-M rule to usher in a new dawn, but now unemployment is staring at the state with no industrial activity. The only industry that has flourished is the bomb making units,” Singh said.

Noting that infiltration from Bangladesh was continuing unabated and the state government had failed to check it, Singh promised the borders with neighbouring country would be sealed and infiltration checked if BJP was voted to power.

“If voted to power, we will also change the situation in Bengal,” Singh said adding the situation had “improved” in states where BJP is in power.

BJP had given good governance (sushashan) in states like Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Rajasthan where hope and optimism were visible to any casual visitor.

“But in Bengal one can see only sad state-of-affairs prevailing. Under the TMC ‘Maa-Mati-Manush’ rule everyone is facing threat.”

Singh also criticised CPI(M) and Congress for entering into ‘opportunistic alliance’ in Bengal while facing each other in Kerala on the poll turf.

“This shows the bankruptcy of their ideology. ‘Kerala me kushti aur Bangal me dosti’ (wrestling in Kerala but bonding friendship in Bengal),” he said.

Stating that a corruption-free and transparent administration is required in Bengal, Singh said after NDA government came to power in Delhi steps taken by the Prime Minister have benefited the poor.

“The poor people in the country have opened their bank accounts and the subsidies they get go directly to their accounts,” he added.

The polling for the second part of the first phase in Bengal will be held on 11 April.