News Analysis India

Tag: Amit Shah

  • BJP to hold 2,000 small ‘potho sabhas’ in and around Kolkata addressed by Shah, Nadda and others

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Seeking to woo voters in Kolkata and its neighbouring areas, BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah will launch a massive public outreach campaign from Tuesday during which more than 2,000 street corner meetings will be held in over 40 assembly seats, party leaders said on Monday.

    Besides Shah, BJP president JP Nadda, top union ministers and senior party leaders will also address these meetings or “potho sabhas” of up to 500 people, said a party functionary who is involved in handling the BJP’s election campaign in the state.

    The party is adding the ‘potho sabhas’ to its already high-octane campaign in West Bengal to make inroads in Kolkata and its surrounding region, seen as a stronghold of the state’s ruling TMC which had trounced the BJP in this region during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, despite a surge in the saffron party’s vote share across the state.

    Keeping in mind the convenience of people, these meetings will take place in the evening in easy-to-access areas such as housing societies and community centres, among others.

    The campaign will start with senior party leader Amit Shah addressing meetings in Dum Dum and Baranagar assembly constituencies on Tuesday, the BJP leader said.

    Considering the unique features of this urban area which is facing several governance and infrastructure-related issues, the BJP’s West Bengal unit has planned this massive public outreach campaign in over 40 assembly constituencies in and around the city, he said.

    The party’s national and state leaders will reach out to the various communities residing in Kolkata to share with them the BJP’s vision for the city in specific and the state in general, he said.

    Party leaders said Kolkata has been the home ground of many significant movements in Indian history.

    However, due to the neglect by state governments of the past, the city and its people have been facing issues on multiple fronts such as crumbling infrastructure, inadequate healthcare facilities, lack of economic growth and growing concern over the safety of women, among others.

    Four phases of Assembly elections in West Bengal are over and another four phases are left.

  • WB polls: NRC will have no impact on Gorkhas, says Amit Shah at Kalimpong

    By PTI
    KALIMPONG (West Bengal): Seeking to allay fears created among the people of the hills by TMC’s “lies”, Union Home Minister Amit Shah asserted on Monday that the National Register of Citizens (NRC) will have no impact on the Gorkhas.

    Shah, during an address after a roadshow in Kalimpong, said as long as the Narendra Modi-led BJP government is there at the Centre, no Gorkha will be harmed.

    “NRC has not yet been implemented, but whenever it is done, not a single Gorkha will be asked to leave,” the senior BJP leader said.

    “The Trinamool Congress is lying about the possible fallout of NRC on the Gorkhas in order to create fear among them,” he said.

    ALSO READ | Mamata Banerjee says BJP killing own cadre, promises to probe Cooch Behar shooting

    Noting that Darjeeling and Kalimpong have suffered atrocities for long, Shah claimed in 1986, over 1,200 Gorkhas lost their lives, but they did not get justice.

    The home minister also alleged that the Mamata government has also been responsible for the death of many Gorkhas in recent times.

    “We will form an SIT and send those responsible for the wrongdoings behind bars,” Shah said amid chants of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and ‘Jai Gorkha’.

    Darjeeling and its adjoining areas were rocked by movements and protests, which at times turned violent, in favour of a separate Gorkhaland in 1986 and in 2017.

    Later, addressing a poll rally in Dhupguri assembly constituency, Shah declared that the BJP is ahead in 92 of the 135 seats that went to polls in the first four phases of the West Bengal assembly elections.

    He also asked people to give a grand farewell to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, ensuring that the saffron party wins over 200 seats.

    ALSO READ | Mamata ‘clean bowled’, BJP completed century already: PM Modi at Bardhaman

    Mocking Banerjee for uttering his name more than that of Bengal in her speeches, Shah said had she talked more about the state, the CM could have had a chance to win the elections.

    Maintaining that he has a resignation letter ready in his pocket, the home minister asked the people at the rally whether they want him to quit in the wake of the death of four people in firing by the CISF during polling in the fourth phase.

    “If the people want, I will tender my resignation,” he added.

    Dhupguri goes to polls in the fifth phase on Saturday.

  • PM Modi, Shah to hold multiple rallies in poll-bound Bengal today

     Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah will address several public programs in poll-bound West Bengal on Monday.

    At 12:00 noon, the Prime Minister will address an election rally at Talit Sai Centre in Purba Bardhaman district.

    After that, he will also hold rallies in Kalyani University Grounds in Nadia district at 1.40 pm and the Barasat area of the North 24 Parganas district at 3.10 pm.

    Besides Prime Minister Modi, Shah will hold a roadshow in Kalimpong district at 11:30 am.

    Later, he will address a public meeting in the Dhupguri area of the Jalpaiguri district and in the Hemtabad Vidhan Sabha constituency. He is also scheduled to conduct a roadshow in Siliguri.

    Shah on Sunday held back-to-back roadshows in West Bengal and also addressed several public meetings.

    Polling for the first four phases has been concluded in West Bengal. Violence erupted at a polling booth in Cooch Behar during the fourth round of polling. The ruling TMC alleged that Central forces opened fire twice at polling booths in Cooch Behar where people were casting their votes. Official sources in Cooch Behar confirmed the death of four people in firing.

    Polling for the first four phases has been concluded in West Bengal. The fifth and sixth phases of the ongoing elections will take place on April 17 and April 22. Counting of votes will take place on May 2.

  • Shah blames Mamata for Sitalkuchi violence, says her ‘advice to gherao central forces instigated attack’

    By PTI
    SANTIPUR: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday launched a scathing attack against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, alleging that her advice to gherao central forces had instigated people to attack CISF in Cooch Behar’s Sitalkuchi that led to four deaths in firing by security personnel.

    He also accused the TMC supremo of doing appeasement politics even in case of deaths.

    “Mamata Banerjee had advised people to gherao central forces. Is that not responsible for the deaths in Sitalkuchi? Her advice had instigated the people to attack the CISF,” Shah told reporters after a roadshow in Santipur in Nadia district.

    Apart from the four deaths in what the CISF described as a “self-defence action”, a BJP worker was also shot dead by unidentified persons in the same Sitalkuchi assembly constituency during the fourth phase of voting on Saturday.

    Shah alleged that Banerjee did appeasement politics by paying tributes to the people killed in the CISF firing but did not condole the death of the BJP worker, identified as Anand Barman, as he was from the Rajbongshi community who are not her vote bank.

    “Attempts are being made to politicise the Sitalkuchi killings. Mamata Banerjee had paid tributes to four persons who were killed in the CISF firing but did not condole the death of Anand Barman as he is a Rajbongshi and is not fit for her vote bank. It is very unfortunate to see appeasement politics even in case of deaths,” he said.

    Noting that polling in the first three phases was by and large peaceful, Shah appealed to all the political parties to abide by the Election Commission rules in the next four phases.

    Banerjee, while addressing a rally at Baneswar in Cooch Behar district on April 7, had alleged that CRPF personnel were harassing and killing people at Shah’s behest.

    She had advised people to “form groups to gherao central forces and keep them busy by talking to them”, while others will quickly go to polling stations and cast their votes.

  • Bengal polls: Is Mamata pushing people towards anarchy, asks Shah

    By ANI
    KOLKATA: Hitting out at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her remarks on the Central Forces, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday questioned whether she was pushing people towards anarchy.

    Addressing media persons, Shah said, “When CAPF is deployed for poll duty, it does not come under the jurisdiction of the Home Ministry. It comes under the Election Commission. The frustration of TMC is very much evident from their action and speeches. I have not seen such a leader or chief minister in my life who give statements to ‘gherao CRPF’. Is she pushing the people towards anarchy? I do not understand.”

    “The way TMC has appealed to minority voters to come together and vote for the TMC indicates that their minority vote bank is also slipping away,” added Shah.

    He furthers said, “In the three phases, BJP has got unprecedented support from the people of Bengal. As per our estimation, BJP will win between 63 to 68 seats in the three phases.”

    Shah is holding a door-to-door campaign for BJP in Kolkata’s Bhowanipur today. Bhowanipur has been represented by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. However, Banerjee chose Nandigram to contest the assembly polls this year.

    Amit Shah will also hold roadshows in Madhyamgram and Jagatdal on Friday.

    The first three phases of the eight-phased West Bengal polls have already taken place. The fourth phase of the elections will be held on Saturday. The counting of votes will take place on May 2.  

  • BJP to win 63-68 seats in first three phases of polling in Bengal: Amit Shah

    By PTI
    DOMJUR: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said that the BJP is confident of winning 63 to 68 seats in the first three phases of elections held in West Bengal so far.

    Polling has been completed in 91 of the 294 assembly seats in the state, which will see five more phases of elections.

    ALSO READ | Bengal assembly elections: Amit Shah holds roadshow in Singur, assures industrialisation

    “The Bharatiya Janata Party estimates that it will surely win 63 to 68 seats in the first three phases of elections and gain a huge lead over the Trinamool Congress, Communists and the Congress,” Shah said.

    The saffron party will also gain leads in the rest of the phases and cross the target of winning 200 seats, he told reporters after having lunch at a local BJP supporter’s modest home here in Howrah district.

  • Bengal assembly elections: Amit Shah holds roadshow in Singur, assures industrialisation

    By PTI
    SINGUR: Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a colourful roadshow here on Wednesday, once a hot spot of the anti-land acquisition movement, and promised rapid industrialisation of the area if BJP is voted to power.

    The symbolism of the home minister holding a roadshow in Singur, three days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a rally there and alleged the “obstructionist mindset” of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee deprived West Bengal of industries and jobs, was clear–the BJP wants to corner her over the state’s dwindling industrial base and alleged job loss.

    Lustily cheered by crowds, Shah stood atop a decorated vehicle with BJP candidate for the Singur seat Rabindranath Bhattacharya, who recently joined the saffron party after leaving the Trinamool Congress, and smilingly waved at people standing by the roadside and on terraces and balconies.

    Speaking to reporters during the show, Shah said Singur, which has been shunned by industry since the 2006 agitation, will be developed by the next BJP government in the state.

    ALSO READ | TMC leaders swindled all central aid for Bengal: Yogi Adityanath

    “We will develop the area by setting up industries and a Rs 500 crore intervention fund has been announced for potatoes, for which the area is known, in our Sankalp Patra (manifesto),” he said.

    Shah said, after winning the elections, the BJP government will ensure that small, medium and large industries are set up in Singur, situated beside the national highway connecting Kolkata and New Delhi.

    “We will pursue politics of development, dialogue and cooperation, instead of confrontation,” he said.

    He said he welcomed TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee for invoking Hindu Gods and Goddesses, and for reciting Chandi Path (hymns to Goddess Durga) at public meetings, but quipped it was “too late for her”.

    “The BJP will win Bengal elections with more than 200 seats in the kitty,” he said.

    West Bengal has 294 assembly seats.

    Banerjee, often accused by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders of minority appeasement, has been regularly chanting hymns and asserting her Hindu identity to keep the majority community in good humour.

    ALSO READ | Mamata heaping abuse on me as she is frustrated over TMC’s impending defeat, says PM Modi

    The roadshow meandered through the roads of Singur town for nearly an hour from Dulepara more to Singur police station, as colourful posters, BJP flags and green and saffron balloons dotted route.

    Chants of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and slogans demanding industrialisation and jobs pervaded the air as the procession crawled through streets.

    Donning a saffron-coloured turban, the 89-year-old Bhattacharya, a four-time TMC MLA from Singur before he left the party on being denied a ticket, waved at the crowd standing alongside Shah.

    Bhattacharya’s induction and nomination had caused a lot of resentment among BJP old-timers in Singur.

    Shah is scheduled to hold three more roadshows in the state, including one in Kolkata, on Wednesday.

    Referring to the Singur movement of 2006-08 that forced Tata Motors to move out its proposed small car Nano’s mother production unit from there, Modi had told an election meeting that the TMC used the place for political purpose and then left the people to fend for themselves.

    Singur, a small town in Hooghly district, has an old connection between Banerjee and Modi.

    The scene of an aggressive movement led by Banerjee against forcible land acquisition by the then Left Front government for the ‘Nano’ project, Singur, along with Nandigram, had catapulted the street fighter TMC leader to power in West Bengal in 2011.

    The sustained, and often violent, protests by the local farming community led by Banerjee forced the Tatas to move out of Singur.

    A cryptic ‘Suswagatam’ SMS from Modi, then the Gujarat chief minister, to Ratan Tata, the group chairman, is said to have clinched the deal in Gujarat’s favour and led to the relocation of the project to Sanand near Ahmedabad.

    Many considered it as West Bengal’s loss and Gujarat’s gain.

  • Centre determined to end Naxal menace, says Home Minister Amit Shah

    By PTI
    RAIPUR: The fight against ultras will be intensified to end the Naxal menace, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Monday as he took stock of the situation in the aftermath of the killing 22 security personnel in an attack by the rebels in Chhattisgarh.

    Talking to reporters after chairing a high-level meeting here on the Left Wing Extremism (LWE) situation, Shah said the sacrifices of the security personnel will always be remembered for taking this battle to a “decisive turn”.

    Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, senior officials of the state police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were present in the meeting.

    Thirty-one security personnel were also injured in the gun-battle with Naxals between Jonaguda and Tekalguda villages along the border of Sukma and Bijapur districts in the Bastar region on Saturday.

    Out of the total 22 fatalities, the CRPF lost eight men, including seven commandos of the CoBRA (CRPF’s elite unit) and one jawan of the Bastariya battalion, eight of the other deceased were from the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and six from the Special Task Force (STF).

    One jawan is still missing, officials said.

    “I want to assure the country that this fight will not be stopped, rather it will continue with more intensity till the end.

    In this fight, our victory is definite in the end,” Shah said.

    The Union minister said he paid tributes to the martyred personnel on behalf of the country, the Government of India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    ALSO READ | Amit Shah, Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel pay tributes to jawans killed in Maoist ambush

    Their supreme sacrifices will not go in vain.

    The country will always remember their sacrifice for taking this battle to a “decisive turn”, he said.

    “In the last few years, the fight against Naxals has reached a decisive turn and this unfortunate incident has taken the fight two steps ahead,” he said.

    Shah said during the review meeting with the chief minister and personnel of various security forces, officials themselves suggested that the intensity of this fight should not be hampered, which shows the morale of the forces is intact and high, he said.

    Shah said in the last five-six years, they have achieved success in setting up camps of security forces in the interior areas.

    “Both the central and state governments have been jointly making inroads (into Maoist strongholds). Therefore, such incidents come to fore out of their (Maoists) frustration,” he said.

    On the development front also, several works have been done, though due to the coronavirus their pace got slowed down a little, he said.

    “But, I believe that action is being taken on all the suggestions received from tribal public representatives, chief minister and MPs from the state,” Shah said.

    He said the central and state governments have been working on both fronts – to expedite the development works in tribal areas and to intensify action against the extremists.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already fixed the priority- to take this fight (against Naxals) to a logical end, he said.

    Shah further said he wanted to assure the people of Chhattisgarh and the country that after Saturday’s incident, the fight against Naxals will be intensified and will definitely be converted into a victory.

    Earlier, Shah attended the wreath-laying ceremony here to pay homage to the security personnel who lost their lives in the Naxal attack.

    It is Shah’s first visit to the Bastar region after assuming the charge of Union home minister, an official said.

    Shah is also scheduled to visit Basaguda camp of the CRPF in Bijapur where he will have an interaction and lunch with the CRPF and state police personnel there, he said.

    He will later go to Raipur and visit three hospitals where the injured personnel are admitted.

    Shah will leave for Delhi at 5.30 pm on Monday.

  • Amit Shah, Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel pay tributes to jawans killed in Maoist ambush

    By Express News Service
    RAIPUR: Union home minister Amit Shah and Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel paid tributes to the security personnel gunned down at the Maoist encounter at Jagdalpur in Bastar on Monday.

    Twenty-two jawans were killed in the Maoist ambush in the inhospitable terrain of an edgy district of Bijapur, south Chhattisgarh, on Saturday.

    Shah reached Jagdalpur from Delhi by a special flight on Monday morning. During his eight-hour halt, he will hold a high-level meeting with the top officials of the state, police and paramilitary forces at the circuit house before proceeding to Bijapur to meet the injured personnel admitted in the district hospital. The union minister is also scheduled to visit a CRPF camp at Basaguda where he will have lunch with the jawans.  

    In another significant development, some journalists in south Bastar received phone calls from the Maoists claiming that the Cobra battalion jawan who had gone missing after the encounter is in their captivity.  

  • Naxal attack: Shah to visit Chhattisgarh, hold high-level meet

    By PTI
    JAGDALPUR: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will arrive in Chhattisgarh on Monday to chair a high-level meeting in connection with the Naxal attack in the state’s Bastar region that claimed the lives of 22 security personnel, a senior official said.

    Shah will reach the Jagdalpur airport (in Bastar district) at around 10.35 am, following which he will attend the wreath-laying ceremony to pay respect to the martyred personnel at the Police Lines here, he said.

    It will be Shah’s first visit to the Bastar region after assuming the charge of Union home minister, he said.

    In Jagdalpur, the wreath would be laid on the mortal remains of 14 security personnel, while tributes would be paid to the other deceased jawans at the Bijapur district headquarters, the official said.

    Shah will later chair a high-level meeting at the Police Coordination Centre here on the Left Wing Extremism (LWE) situation.

    Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, senior officials of the state police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) will attend the meeting, he said.

    Shah will then leave for the Basaguda camp of the CRPF in Bijapur in a chopper and will have an interaction and lunch with the CRPF and state police personnel there, he said.

    He will later go to Raipur and visit three hospitals where the injured personnel are admitted.

    Shah will leave for Delhi at 5.30 pm on Monday.

    Twenty two security personnel were killed and 31 others injured in the gunfight with Naxals between Jonaguda and Tekalguda villages along the border of Sukma and Bijapur districts on Saturday.

    Out of the total 22 fatalities, the CRPF lost eight men, including seven commandos of the CoBRA (CRPF’s elite unit) and one jawan of the Bastariya battalion, eight of the other deceased were from the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and six from the Special Task Force (STF).

    One jawan is still missing, officials said.