Amit Shah in West Bengal highlights: ‘Mamata di, you can’t remove Modi by gathering 23-25 leaders’ says BJP chief in Malda rally

BJP president Amit Shah today kicked off the party’s campaign in West Bengal for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections with a rally in Malda. The event comes days after chief minister Mamata Banerjee hosted a mega opposition gathering in Kolkata.The rallies came after the Mamata Banerjee government refused permission for BJP’s “rath yatra”, citing law and order concerns. The party had contested the denial of permission in the courts and fought it up to the Supreme Court, but failed to get any relief. The apex court had, however, allowed the BJP to hold public meetings. Bengal is crucial in the BJP’s plan for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and the party has set itself a target of 22 seats in the state. The party which currently holds two seats in the state, has been bolstered with a number of senior Trinamool Congress leaders joining it.Shah’s rally in Malda, where he will address party workers in north Bengal, comes a day after a row between the BJP and the state government over a landing spot for his helicopter.:

3:08 pm IST

Mamata not allowing benefits of welfare schemes reach you: Shah

“Modiji has offered 129 welfare schemes for the people of the country. But Mamata is not allowing the benefits to reach you,” said Shah in Malda.

3:04 pm IST

Oppn gathbandhan only about power, self-interest: Shah

“What is this gathbandhan? It’s about power and self-interest.They didn’t chant Vande Materam and Bharat Mata Ki Jai in Opposition’s Kolkata rally” said Shah.

3:02 pm IST

Administration has been politicised: Shah

“The administration has been politicised. There was no permission for my helicopter and for the rath yatra”, says Shah.

3:01 pm IST

Need to shut down illegal arms and bomb manufacturing units: Shah

“We have to start factories in Bengal and shut down illegal arms and bomb manufacturing units”, says Shah.

3:00 pm IST

Throw out TMC, no one will have to pay syndicate tax: Shah

“Throw out TMC and I assure you that no one will have to pay syndicate tax,” says Shah.

2:59 pm IST

Bengal govt employees get DA 49% less than their Central govt : Shah

“The Bengal govt employees get DA 49% less than their Central govt counterparts. Where has the money gone,” asks Shah.

2:58 pm IST

If BJP wins in Bengal, not a single cow will be stolen: Shah

“Vote for BJP in Bengal and not a single cow will be smuggled,” says Shah in Malda.

2:57 pm IST

Do you want a Bengal where there is no permission to immerse Durga idol: Shah

“Do you want a Bengal where there is no permission to immerse the idol of Durga and there is no permission to worship Saraswati,” Shah asks the audience.

2:55 pm IST

Refugees asking Mamata whether TMC will support citizenship bill: Shah

“I want to ask Mamata, the refugees who have come from Bangladesh are asking you whether you will support the Citizenship Amendment Bill” said Amit Shah.

2:53 pm IST

Hindu, Buddhist and Sikh need not fear NRC: Shah

“I am assuring Hindu, Buddhist and Sikh people living here that they need not fear NRC,” said Shah.

2:51 pm IST

Half the Centre’s money consumed by infiltrators, half by TMC: Shah

The Central money is consumed half by infiltrators and the rest half TMC leaders, alleges Shah

2:50 pm IST

Modi-led government gave ₹3.95 lakh cr to Bengal: Shah

The UPA govt gave ₹1.32 lakh cr in 5 years to Bengal. Narendra Modi-led government gave ₹3.95 lakh cr, says Shah.

2:47 pm IST

TMC didn’t let peole vote in rural polls: Shah

“You (TMC) did not let people vote in the rural polls. Don’t try it this time. The central election commission will be in charge. Their staff will be in all booths. People need not fear,” says Amit Shah in Malda rally

2:45 pm IST

Mamata can stop our yatras, but can’t remove BJP from hearts of people: Shah

“Mamata can stop our yatras, but can’t remove BJP from hearts of people,” said Amit Shah. “You don’t give us permission for the yatra. It isn’t a big deal. We will work harder, will sweat it out, but will sure dethrone you,” BJP chief Amit Shah in Malda.

2:41 pm IST

TMC has turned Bengal into a kangal state: Shah

“TMC has turned Bengal into a kangal state,” says Shah in Malda.

2:40 pm IST

In TMC’s regime, every 5th person is living below poverty line: Shah

“In TMC’s regime, every 5th person in Bengal is living below poverty line,” says Shah.

2:35 pm IST

2019 polls will determine whether autocratic TMC govt will remain: Shah

“I have come here to kickstart the election campaign in Bengal. The 2019 Lok Sabha election in more important for Bengal than for the rest of the country. This election is to determine whether this autocratic TMC government will remain or will be thrown away,” Amit Shah says.

2:31 pm IST

2019 polls will determine Bengal’s future: Amit Shah

“2019 polls will determine Bengal’s future,” said Amit Shah in Malda rally.

2:25 pm IST

Given word to Shah that we will win more than 22 of Bengal’s 42 seats: BJP state president

“We have given word to Amit Shah that we will win more than 22 of Bengal’s 42 Lok Sabha seats, including both seats in Malda,” BJP state president Dilip Ghosh said.

2:22 pm IST

Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh addresses rally

West Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh is addressing rally in Malda.

2:18 pm IST

Amit Shah reaches rally venue

BJP president Amit Shah has reached the rally venue in West Bengal’s Malada.

1:45 pm IST

If TMC crosses 20 Lok Sabha seats in 2019, I will leave politics: Mukul Roy

“If Trinamool crosses 20 Lok Sabha seats in 2019, I will leave politics”, said Mukul Roy.

1:41 pm IST

Mamata acting as a roadblock for development schemes: Mukul Roy

TMC chief Mamata Banerjee is acting as a roadblock for development schemes. She is opposing a scheme like Ayushman Bharat which is being praised across the world,” said BJP’s Mukul Roy.

1:32 pm IST

Mamata wants to be PM, Oppn doen’t support her: Mukul Roy

TMC chief Mamata Banerjee wants to be PM but opposition parties don’t support her, says former aide Mukul Roy.

1:30 pm IST

Huge crowd gathers ahead of Amit Shah’s rally

Chinmoy Bhowmick, student painted his body in BJP President Amit Shah’s rally in Malda on Tuesday, January 22, 2019. ( Samir Jana/HT Photo )

1:25 pm IST

Amit Shah’s helicopter lands in Malda

Amit Shah’s helicopter landed in Malda, he is expected to reach the rally venue shortly.

1:15 pm IST

Amit Shah on way to Malda

BJP chief Amit Shah is on his way to Malda from Bagdogra airport in north Bengal to kick off the party’s campaign in West Bengal for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

12:36 pm IST

WB govt blocking events, fears our prominence in country: Piyush Goyal

The BJP on Monday said that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government is creating hindrances for the party to hold any event in the state as they fear the rise of BJP’s prominence in the country, especially in Left-dominated states like Tripura.

Addressing a press conference here, Union Minister of Railways Piyush Goyal said: “Mamata didi has probably started seeing the whole picture clearly now. She is afraid now; she can clearly see the BJP’s domination, Modi ji’s bond with the people. The West Bengal government has dedicated itself solely to the purpose of creating hindrances for every event organised by the BJP in the state”.

12:32 pm IST

BJP accuses TMC of vandalising posters ahead of Shah’s rally

The West Bengal unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday accused the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers of vandalising posters and decorative gates ahead of party chief Amit Shah’s rally here.

“Gates, welcome arches, posters, cut-outs, festoons have been vandalised ahead of our national president’s rally. Gates have set on fire. Vehicles carrying our supporters are being stopped in many places,” state BJP President Dilip Ghosh said.