New Delhi: In an all-out effort to appease the Rajbonshi community of North Bengal ahead of the Assembly polls in West Bengal, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday announced a new ‘Narayani Sena Battalion’ in the paramilitary forces. He said that the training centre will be named after ‘veer’ Chila Roy (the Prince and younger brother of King Nara Narayan of Koch Dynasty).
He also pledged to fulfill the dream of ‘Sonar Bangla’ in West Bengal in five years and requested the masses to vote for the BJP under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, News18 reported.
Rajbonshi have more than 30 per cent vote share in North Bengal. Out of the 294 Assembly seats in the state, the Rajbonshi community is the deciding factor in nearly 50 out of the 54 Assembly segments in North Bengal.
The community helped the BJP to gain massive inroads in the region in the last Lok Sabha polls. They were the deciding factor during the Left rule till TMC came to power in 2011 under Mamata Banerjee, the report added.
Addressing a ‘Parivartan Yatra’ in Rash Mela Ground in Cooch Behar, Shah said, “Today, I feel honoured to address you from Cooch Behar which is known for the bravery of Narayani Sena. Once Narayani Sena courageously fought with the Mughals and chased them away. Now once again infiltrators are entering India illegally. We will dedicate a Narayani Sena battalion in the paramilitary forces soon. Not the least the training centre for Narayani Sena will be known as Chila Roy.”
“Not only Narayani Sena battalion but we will set up Rajbonshi Cultural Centre, a Tourist Circuit and Thakur Panchanan memorial centre with his statue if we come to power in 2021. The Rajbonshi cultural Centre will cost Rs 500 crore while Rs 250 crore will be earmarked for the statue of Panchanan Barman,” he added.