Bengal: Modi dials Basirhat BJP candidate Rekha Patra, calls her ‘Shakti Swaroopa’
Rekha Patra was among the Sandeshkhali women who had spoken up about their plight in the hands of now-suspended TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan and his men
The BJP Lok Sabha poll candidate from West Bengal’s Basirhat constituency, Rekha Patra, got a call from none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday (March 26). Patra was among the Sandeshkhali women who had spoken up about their plight in the hands of now-suspended TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan and his men. The PM hailed her as “Shakti Swaroopa”.
Sandeshkhali village falls under the Basirhat Lok Sabha seat. Modi spoke to Patra about her campaign preparations and the support for the BJP among voters, and other issues, while she narrated the ordeal of women in her area. Patra told Modi that she feels good that he was standing by them. “It is like Ram ji is with us,” she can be heard saying in videos of the conversation released by news agencies.
Modi’s message
“You fought the battle in Sandeshkhali. You are Shakti Swaroopa,” PM Modi told her. “Shakti” in Hinduism is associated with goddesses such as Durga and Kali.
He also told her to take the message to the masses about how the TMC government was working against the people of the state.
“Work in the midst of people, take the message to them that the TMC government is creating problems for the people, they do not allow implementation of the BJP (Union) government schemes in West Bengal. Tell people that they are engaged in corruption and changing names of schemes,” the prime minister was quoted as saying by a BJP leader.
Patra’s goal
Patra said she had not voted since 2011 due to the situation in the area. Modi reportedly assured her that the Election Commission would hold free and fair elections and ensure that everyone could vote this time.
Patra also alleged that local TMC supporters had initially opposed her candidature from the BJP, but were supporting her now. She said she has no enmity with anyone.
She added that she comes from a poor family and her husband works in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. “I will do something so that no one has to go that far for work. They will get employment here,” she said.
“Locals are with me”
Later, while talking to reporters in Kolkata, Patra thanked the prime minister for his “encouragement”.
“I want to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modiji for his inspiring and encouraging words. I also want to thank the BJP for nominating me from the seat. All the women in the area are aware of the horrific experiences that we had to go through in Sandeshkhali. The women and the locals of Sandeshkhali are with me,” she said.
Basirhat, one of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal, is currently represented by the TMC.
Sheikh, who has been suspended by the TMC, and some of his associates have been arrested in connection with attacks on Enforcement Directorate officials and are in CBI custody.
(With agency inputs)