Dec 01 2014 : The Times of India (Ahmedabad)
Saradha scam money funded Burdwan blast, says Amit Shah
Jayanta Gupta |
Kolkata: TNN |
BJP president Amit Shah tore into the role of the Trinamool Congress government in the Saradha chit fund scam here on Sunday and said the ill-gotten money was used to fund bomb-making in Burdwan.Addressing a large rally at the landmark Victoria House in face of objections from the West Bengal government, Shah said, "TMC MPs protested against black money in Parliament. I want to ask Didi whether the Saradha chit fund money is black or white?" Attacking the state government, he told the crowds, "You'll be surprised to know that when investigations began into the Saradha chit fund scam, it was found the scam money was used in Burdwan blast."
Alleging that chief minister Mamata Banerjee tried to stall the National Investigation Agency probe into the Burdwan blast for political gains, Shah said she is protecting those involved in "subversive activities" and dared her to declare that her MPs, arrested by the CBI for their involvement in the Saradha scam, are innocent.
"Mamata Didi, aap Bangal per raaj karna chahti hain Bangladeshi ghuspaithiyo ke bal par. Ye to ulti buddhi ka parichay hay (Mamata Didi, you wish to rule Bengal with votes from illegal migrants from Bangladesh. This is not an example of a sane mind)," Shah thundered. Considering the political developments in Kolkata over the last few weeks, sparks were expected to fly when Shah took centre-stage, but few would've imagined it would be such blistering offensive against Mamata.
Shah's jibed and poked on the Saradha issue and attacked Mamata for her alleged affinity towards those who illegally cross over from Bangladesh into India. "Ulti ginti shuru ho gayi hay (the countdown has started). Paying little heed to national security, Mamata is protecting those responsible for the Khagragarh blasts," he said.
"She is accusing the CBI of hounding her party leaders. It's for the court to decide whether or not those arrested are guilty .I challenge her to make a public statement saying those arrested are innocent. Why can't she say who purchased her painting?
Why was Justice Shyamal Sen commission wound up?" Shah, considered the brains behind BJP's majority in the Lok Sabha elections, made it clear that Bengal was his party's top priority . The BJP , he said, will go the whole hog to try and clinch the 2016 assembly polls in the state. For this, the elections to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation and other civic bodies in 2015 are crucial. In return for votes, Shah promised to take Bengal to No. 1 position in the country the same level as Gujarat and Maharashtra.
Strong minority presence at rally
From a four-minute pause at 3.20pm halfway through his speech to allow azaan, to handing over Rs 50,000 in cheques to four Muslim families who had died in political clashes, BJP chief Amit Shah on Sunday stepped beyond mere words to woo an electorate that is increasingly flocking to his party in south Bengal, particularly Birbhum. Significantly, a considerable portion of the huge turnout in the heart of central Kolkata comprised members of the minority community.
Alleging that chief minister Mamata Banerjee tried to stall the National Investigation Agency probe into the Burdwan blast for political gains, Shah said she is protecting those involved in "subversive activities" and dared her to declare that her MPs, arrested by the CBI for their involvement in the Saradha scam, are innocent.
"Mamata Didi, aap Bangal per raaj karna chahti hain Bangladeshi ghuspaithiyo ke bal par. Ye to ulti buddhi ka parichay hay (Mamata Didi, you wish to rule Bengal with votes from illegal migrants from Bangladesh. This is not an example of a sane mind)," Shah thundered. Considering the political developments in Kolkata over the last few weeks, sparks were expected to fly when Shah took centre-stage, but few would've imagined it would be such blistering offensive against Mamata.
Shah's jibed and poked on the Saradha issue and attacked Mamata for her alleged affinity towards those who illegally cross over from Bangladesh into India. "Ulti ginti shuru ho gayi hay (the countdown has started). Paying little heed to national security, Mamata is protecting those responsible for the Khagragarh blasts," he said.
"She is accusing the CBI of hounding her party leaders. It's for the court to decide whether or not those arrested are guilty .I challenge her to make a public statement saying those arrested are innocent. Why can't she say who purchased her painting?
Why was Justice Shyamal Sen commission wound up?" Shah, considered the brains behind BJP's majority in the Lok Sabha elections, made it clear that Bengal was his party's top priority . The BJP , he said, will go the whole hog to try and clinch the 2016 assembly polls in the state. For this, the elections to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation and other civic bodies in 2015 are crucial. In return for votes, Shah promised to take Bengal to No. 1 position in the country the same level as Gujarat and Maharashtra.
Strong minority presence at rally
From a four-minute pause at 3.20pm halfway through his speech to allow azaan, to handing over Rs 50,000 in cheques to four Muslim families who had died in political clashes, BJP chief Amit Shah on Sunday stepped beyond mere words to woo an electorate that is increasingly flocking to his party in south Bengal, particularly Birbhum. Significantly, a considerable portion of the huge turnout in the heart of central Kolkata comprised members of the minority community.
