Trinamool Chairperson Mamata Banerjee today addressed a public meeting at Darjeeling. She said that the BJP MP ran away after winning in 2014 elections.
Highlights of her speech:
My salute to the Gorkha contingent. They are the pride of the country. They have sacrificed their lives for the country.
It is my humble request to you to cast your vote in favour of GJM-supported Trinamool candidate Amar Singh Rai
I do not come to the Hills only during elections, and run away thereafter. I come here regularly.
In the last seven years, I have come to the Hills more than 100 times
Bimal Gurung supported BJP in the elections. After winning, did SS Ahluwalia come to the Hills?
We had requested the Centre to set up a university in the Hills. They did not. So, we set up the Hill University here
They incite violence and tension in the Hills for political reasons. They don’t want the Hills to prosper
Amar Singh Rai was the MLA of Darjeeling. He is a bhumiputra of the Hills.
We have not brought any candidate from Delhi. They gave a ticket to Ahluwalia, who ran after eating halua.
Their candidate is from Manipur. He will campaign, distribute money and disappear
We set up a committee for industries in Darjeeling. Amar Singh Rai was the Chairman of the committee
We need three-pronged planning for the development of Hills – short-term, mid-term and long-term
Trinamool will play a significant role in the formation of the next government at Centre
Your MP also became a minister at Centre. Did the Hills benefit at all? What did he do for you?
He knew he’d lose from Darjeeling, so he ran away to Bardhaman
Has the BJP President ever visited the Hills by road? Does he know about the local places? He comes via helicopter, gives a speech and goes away
What has the BJP done for the country for five years
We made Kalimpong a new district. An education hub is coming up at Kurseong.
More than 2 crore people lost their jobs in 2017-18. 12,000 farmers committed suicide.
Demonetisation and GST destroyed the economy. Traders and businessmen suffered
They promised to bring back black money from abroad, and deposit Rs 15 lakh in every bank account. Did they do it?
Five years ago he was a chaiwallah. Now he has become chaiwallah. They have not kept their promises
Chowkidar chor hain, jhoota hain, lootera hain.
40 jawans died in Pulwama. He is asking for votes in the names of jawans. The Centre had information from intelligence. It is their responsibility because they did not take any action.
Terrorism has increased by 260% under Modi’s rule. Unemployment is at 45-year high.
In the name of NRC, they want to drive everyone away. Who are they to decide who will stay and who won’t?
Names of 40 lakh people were excluded in the NRC list in Assam. They excluded the names of Gorkhas, Bengalis, Hindus, Muslims, Biharis… everyone.
They brought the Citizenship Amendment Bill. We opposed the Bill in Parliament, because of which it could not be passed
Under this Bill, you will lose your citizenship for five years. If you become a foreigner for five years, what will be your future? It is not certain whether you will get citizenship again.
The country is under threat. Rights and freedom of the people are under threat
Those who raise the voice against the Centre, they send the agencies to intimidate them
Modi made a film on himself; he thinks he is great. A TV channel has been started in his name. They are only doing publicity
In 2014 itself we asked the Centre to include several communities in the Scheduled Tribe list. They did not do it. Now, they are asking votes on this issue
Many tea garden workers suffered during the strike. Many workers do not get salaries on time. Right now, we cannot announce any decision because of the model code of conduct but we will take a humanitarian decision after elections.
We have formed a review committee to look into the matter of giving pattas to long-time residents of tea gardens
We want the identity of Gorkha brothers and sisters to be safeguarded. We want a solution to the issue of Hills
We want bond of friendship and love between Hills and plains.
