Gandhinagar, May 17: Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah criticized decades of governance in West Bengal on Sunday, alleging that ordinary citizens have faced corruption and political interference in their daily economic activities for years.
During a public event in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, the Home Minister compared the current state of Bengal to Gujarat’s earlier development journey, stating that the eastern state has long suffered from a lack of progress.
In his speech, Shah remarked that if a film were made about Gujarat in 1964 and another about Bengal today, Gujarat would score higher. He claimed that for nearly 50 years, development-related activities in Bengal have been minimal, asserting that political commission practices have infiltrated everyday transactions.
He stated that even purchasing items like tube lights, fans, bricks, or cement required paying a commission to the ruling party. Shah also alleged that individuals bringing goods from neighboring states at lower prices faced unofficial extortion.
He noted that if someone brought a cheaper fan by train from another state, people would be stationed at railway stations to collect taxes. Such conditions have fostered dissatisfaction among the populace and aided the BJP in garnering support in West Bengal. He further mentioned that people have aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP in search of better governance and development.
The Home Minister linked the BJP’s growing influence across various regions of the country to the party’s grassroots organizational structure and outreach to the public. He emphasized that the role of booth-level workers has been crucial to the party’s political success. These workers maintained direct contact with people in villages and cities, consistently working to resolve local issues and build trust.
During his address, Shah also discussed the BJP’s performance in recent local body elections in Gujarat, noting that the party won in all municipalities where elections were held. The BJP also recorded victories in most municipal councils, district panchayats, and taluka panchayats.
He stressed that the party’s electoral success is directly related to its governance record and the efforts of party workers during challenging times, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition to political commentary, Shah provided updates on various civic projects underway in Gandhinagar. These projects include sewage treatment plants, water supply systems, internal roads, lake beautification, community buildings, urban health centers, yoga studios, and sports infrastructure.
Leave a Comment