Setting the tone for 2024 Lok Sabha polls, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said INDIA bloc will taken on the BJP-led NDA in the country while Trinamool Congress will fight on its own in Bengal. Banerjee kicked off the campaign for Lok Sabha polls through a worker’s meet and a public rally at Chakla in North 24 Parganas district.
Banerjee’s statement on Thursday made clear that there are remote chances of any alliance or seat-sharing with Congress or Left Front in the state.
Banerjee also hit out at the BJP on CAA, saying, “the citizenship card is a ploy ahead of every Lok Sabha polls in a bid to woo the votes of the Matua community.”AITC took to its X handle and said, “@BJP4India’s yearly revival of the CAA issue is merely a ploy to manipulate people and garner votes. They’ve repeatedly misled the Matua community with false promises of citizenship. Had the Matuas not been legitimate citizens, how would they possess Aadhaar cards, voter IDs, ration cards, and receive the benefits of government schemes and services?”
Wooing the Matua community in Chakla, Banerjee spoke about the developmental works done for the community in the Matua-dominated North 24 Parganas district.
“Who did the developmental work for the Matua Thakurbari? We did it and have built colleges and universities… But ahead of elections, they (BJP) visit the Matua Thakurbari and ask for votes, making tall claims,” the West Bengal CM questioned.While talking about the CAA, Banerjee reminded people that all are the citizens of this country. “If you are not a citizen of this country, how are you receiving free ration, Swasthya Sathi, Pan Card, Aadhaar Card? Previously, the citizenship card was the responsibility of the District Magistrates, but the same has been taken away…They want to divide people,” Banerjee asserted.”The Matuas, who came to Bengal from Bangladesh till 1971, live in colonies and we are giving pattas to all those colonies under the name “Chirosthaayi Thikana” to ensure that they don’t have to live like refugees,” Banerjee said.