Modi plays Hindu card in Bengal rally; 5 guarantees centred on caste, religion

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (May 12) claimed that the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal was turning Hindus into “second-class citizens” and slammed its “vote-bank politics”.

Speaking at an election rally in Barrackpore, North 24-Parganas district, Modi alleged that TMC goons were threatening the tormented women of Sandeshkhali, where allegations of sexual abuse against TMC leaders have surfaced, to protect the culprits.

Modi woos Hindus

Modi also claimed that TMC had made “bomb-making a cottage industry” in Bengal and claimed the TMC threatens people when they chant “Jai Shri Ram”, it does not allow people to celebrate Ram Navami, and that it has become difficult for people in Bengal to follow their faith because of the TMC.

“The TMC has surrendered before vote-bank politics in Bengal, where you cannot take the name of Shri Ram and neither can celebrate Ram Navami. Hindus have been turned into second-class citizens in Bengal under the TMC rule,” he said.

Modi’s 5 guarantees

Alongside, he promised five “guarantees” to Bengal — all based on caste or religious lines. “Till the time I am here, reservation will not be provided based on religion. Till the time I am here, no one can finish SC, ST, and OBC reservation. Till the time I am here, no one can stop you from worshipping Lord Ram and celebrating Ram Navami. Till the time I am here, no one can overturn the Supreme Court’s judgement on the Ram Temple. Till the time I am here, no one will be able to abolish CAA,” the PM said.

Referring to TMC leader Humayun Kabir’s controversial remark, Modi said the INDIA bloc partners, including TMC, Congress, and the Left Front, were willing to engage in “vote jihad” against the BJP. “A TMC leader says they will throw Hindus into the Bhagirathi. Where do they get the audacity to say and do all this? Who is supporting them?” Modi remarked.

Sandeshkhali claims

Modi also claimed that TMC was doing everything to protect the culprits of Sandeshkhali. “All of us have seen what the TMC has done with the sisters and mothers of Sandeshkhali. TMC goons are now threatening the women in Sandeshkhali, as the name of the main culprit is Shajahan Sheikh. TMC is doing everything to protect the culprits of Sandeshkhali,” he alleged.

Modi’s remarks come in the backdrop of multiple purported videos surfacing on social media, claiming that a local BJP party leader had made several women of Sandeshkhali sign on blank papers, which were later filled in as complaints of sexual assault against TMC leaders.

Fresh video

The prime minister, however, did not directly refer to those videos, which have kept the state’s political cauldron on the boil for the last few days.

In the latest incident, a fresh video surfaced from Sandeshkhali on Saturday night in which a local BJP leader can supposedly be heard claiming that over 70 women received Rs 2,000 each for taking part in protests against Shahjahan Sheikh and his aides.

(With agency inputs)