Union Home Minister Amit Shah descended on West Bengal’s Asansol on April 21, energizing BJP cadres in Kulti with bold promises and scathing attacks on Mamata Banerjee’s regime. The rally, part of the bypoll campaign, highlighted industrial decay, infiltration threats, and welfare schemes to sway voters.
Recalling Kulti’s glory days when its blast furnaces supplied iron across India and abroad, Shah blamed TMC’s ‘kushasan’ for their closure. ‘BJP will resurrect the Iron City, curb illegal mining, and spark economic revival,’ he assured the cheering crowd.
Framing the polls as a fight against infiltrators, Shah vowed, ‘A BJP government means zero tolerance – every infiltrator out of Bengal.’ He cautioned TMC ‘goons’ against poll interference, threatening strict action post-May 4. Rejecting claims of an outsider CM, he emphasized a local Bengali leader.
Targeted commitments included restoring Gorkha voter rights swiftly after polls, tea garden schools, land ownership for laborers, wage hikes exceeding Rs 500 in two years, and four industrial cities in North Bengal. Public servants’ 7th Pay perks in 45 days and Uniform Civil Code implementation were highlighted.
Empowering women and farmers: Monthly Rs 3,000 aid, Rs 21,000 maternity support, 33% reservation in jobs, free buses. Paddy MSP to Rs 3,100/quintal, farmer aid to Rs 9,000/year. Shah condemned Sandeshkhali violence under TMC watch, job rackets, and regional discrimination. ‘From Darjeeling to Kolkata, this vote protects our sisters and delivers justice,’ he concluded, pledging lakh-plus transparent jobs annually.
