Kolkata, February 23: The political landscape in West Bengal has intensified following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s letter to the state’s voters. Shashi Panja, a minister from the Trinamool Congress, sharply criticized the letter, labeling it as an example of vote bank politics and accusing the central government of neglecting Bengal.
Panja stated that Prime Minister Modi only remembers West Bengal when elections approach. “Our question is, does Bengal only come to mind during elections? This makes the people of the state feel insulted. It is purely vote bank politics,” she remarked. In her view, the Prime Minister could have mentioned in his letter that the central government owes Bengal ₹2 lakh crore. She specifically highlighted the pending payments under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). According to her, the Supreme Court has instructed the central government to release the pending payments for 100 days of work under MGNREGA, but the state has yet to receive this amount.
She alleged that this delay has adversely affected the livelihoods of poor and middle-class families. “You have taken away the work from the poor. The funds meant for housing, which involve both central and state participation, have also been withheld. If that is the case, why did the Prime Minister not mention these issues in his letter?” she questioned.
Panja also pointed out that Bengali is the second most spoken language in the country after Hindi. However, she noted incidents of attacks on Bengali speakers in BJP-ruled states. She claimed that some of these incidents have involved violence and even bloodshed. “The Prime Minister should clarify why there are attacks on those who speak Bengali,” she added. Referring to comments made by BJP leaders, she mentioned that the Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar had allegedly made remarks about fish eaters. “Eating fish is part of our culture in Bengal. If there are discussions about closing or banning meat shops, it is an attack on people’s freedom of choice,” she asserted.
Criticizing Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s visit to Bengal and her statements on women’s safety, Panja stated that attention should first be directed to the situation in Delhi. “Delhi is referred to as the rape capital. Reports of hundreds of missing girls surfaced in January. What actions have been taken regarding this?” she asked. She further emphasized that the central government should improve the situation in the national capital before questioning women’s safety in Bengal. Panja claimed that Bengal performs better than Delhi in terms of infant and maternal mortality rates.
Regarding the Prime Minister’s choice of words in his letter, where he used “Jai Maa Kali” instead of “Jai Shri Ram,” Panja noted that all religions and languages are respected in Bengal. “We do not invoke any deity or god to please anyone. There is an atmosphere of communal harmony here,” she stated. She accused the BJP of targeting minorities and referenced incidents during Christmas when Santa Claus and Christmas trees were allegedly removed in some states, raising questions about religious freedom. “All festivals are celebrated in Bengal, whether it is Durga Puja or Christmas,” she added.
Panja concluded by asserting that the BJP is targeting Bengal in light of the upcoming elections. “Once the elections are over, these people will disappear again. The people of Bengal understand everything.”
My name is Himanshu Tiwari. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including TECHNOLOGY, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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