Amit Shah Attacks TMC Government in West Bengal, Frames Assembly Polls as Battle for National Security

KOLKATA: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday sharpened the BJP's campaign pitch for the West Bengal Assembly polls by publishing a 'charge sheet' against the TMC government and framing the election as a battle not merely for the state, but for the country's security. Launching a broadside at the ruling TMC in Kolkata, Shah alleged that during its 15-year rule, the state had become the country's "principal corridor for infiltration, appeasement politics and border insecurity." "The Bengal election is important not only for the state but for the entire country. The security of the country is, in a way, linked to the Bengal election," Shah said. He also claimed that the BJP would form the government in Bengal with an absolute majority, citing strong anti-incumbency sentiments ahead of the Assembly elections. In an unprecedented attack on the TMC government, Shah said, “West Bengal tops in terms of corruption and syndicate raj compared to other states in the country. This state is a laboratory of corruption.” “The Bengal election is important not only for the state but for the entire country. The security of the country is, in a way, linked to the Bengal election,” Shah said. “Trinamool Congress has fielded leaders who have been jailed on charges of large-scale corruption in the elections. The party runs on politics of lies and violence. Mamata-di lies at times about her ‘fractured’ leg and ‘injury on head’, and often attacks the Election Commission,” Shah said, lashing out at the ruling party. Arguing that infiltration routes through Assam had been "shut" after the BJP came to power there, Shah claimed West Bengal was now "the only remaining route" for infiltration. "West Bengal is the only state from where infiltrators are entering the country and creating disturbances," he said.