Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday accused the ruling BJP at the Centre of adopting coercive means against Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders to make them join the saffron party. She alleged that they are being threatened with jail term in the chit fund scam.
Key takeaways from Mamata’s speech:
# Addressing a mega rally here, the first after the Lok Sabha polls, Mamata launched a scathing attack on the Narendra Modi-led government, alleging that they had won 18 Lok Sabha seats in Bengal by manipulating the EVM machines and with the help of the central forces and the Election Commission.
# She demanded that the upcoming civil polls and panchayat elections should be held through ballots only.
# With more and more party leaders switching over to the saffron brigade, the CM claimed they are doing so under duress.
# She alleged that her party MLAs are being lured by BJP with the promise of Rs 2 crore and a petrol pump.
# “Central agencies are threatening our leaders and elected representatives over chit fund scams, asking them to get in touch with the BJP leaders or face prison,” Mamata said.
# She maintained that the central government will not last its full term as it is functioning in a whimsical manner and is resorting to destroying the federal structure.
