Amit Shah attacks Mamata over Saradha, says time up for TMC

Kolkata, Sep 7: Accusing West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) of involvement in the Saradha scam, BJP president Amit Shah on Sunday asserted that the central government was not afraid of anybody in bringing the guilty to the book.

Addressing a party rally here for the first time since he took over as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president, Shah launched a scathing attack on the Mamata Banerjee-led state government over a host of issues, including illegal Bangladeshi immigrants.

"When a few thousand farmers lost their land in Singur and Nandigram, Didi (Banerjee) had fasted for days. But now that 17 lakh poor people have lost their deposits to the Saradha scam, why don't you now feel like fasting?" said Shah referring to Banerjee's anti-land acquisition movement which eventually catapulted her to power.

"You are not fasting because it's your cronies who are involved in the scam," he alleged.

"Can Didi stop those who have taken the money? The answer is no, but we are not afraid of anybody because our workers have not done any scam. So, be it Saradha or any other, we will net whoever is involved," added Shah.

Shah's comments come at a time when the Central Bureau of Investigation, probing the multi-crore scam, has interrogated several high-profile persons and has again taken the custody of suspended Trinamool MP Kunal Ghosh.

Ghosh, who headed Saradha's media arm, Saturday claimed it was Banerjee who benefited the most from the Saradha media and urged he be interrogated with Banerjee and scam kingpin Sudipta Sen.

BJP national secretary S.N. Singh as well as Darjeeling MP S.S. Ahluwalia too attacked the Trinamool over the Saradha issue.

Claiming that Banerjee was concerned only with politics than development, Shah said the people's aspiration for a change has been betrayed by the new regime as he dubbed the Trinamool "a sister" of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M).

"When Bengal was reduced to be a 'kangaal (pauper)' by the CPI-M, people brought in Trinamool, hoping for change. But nothing has changed, be it the crime rate, unemployment or the lack of industry," Shah said.

"Bengal's scenario will not change so long as Didi is there, for she is only concerned with politics and Bangladeshi infiltrators. Ever since Didi came to power, these immigrants have grown up five times," he alleged.

Canvassing for the party candidate for the bypoll in the Chowringhee assembly constituency, where polling is due Sep 13, Shah said the countdown for the Trinamool's departure has begun. He asserted that only BJP was capable of giving good governance.

Claiming that India after long has got an assertive prime minister in Narendra Modi, Shah said the BJP regime in its 100 days has earned the faith of the people through its good governance.

"I am here to appeal to the people of Bengal to join hands with the rest of India as we walk together on the path of development," said Shah.

IANS