Claiming that the tribal couple who hosted Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah in West Bengal last week were forced to join the Trinamool Congress, the former will hold massive protests in the state on Thursday. The BJP has accused the TMC of abducting the couple adding that it is a text book case of revenge politics.
Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had on Wednesday wondered if the TMC’s “desperation” was caused by the CBI’s probe into Saradha chit fund scam case and the Narada bribery sting allegedly involving several of its MPs. “The investigation will not stop. It is based on evidence which is in the public domain. Bengal is seeing reckless violence and overpowering fear of the TMC,” he said.
He also added that the ruling party could not tolerate a tribal couple offering lunch to the BJP president and was unnerved by the “success” of Shah’s visit. He asserted that such tactics by the TMC cannot stop the BJP’s expansion
Meanwhile, reacting to Prasad, TMC leader Derek O Brien said: “I think he is crossing the line, economical on facts, sitting in Delhi with no knowledge of Bengal and making these hollow statements. I will appeal to the law minister to uphold the dignity of his office.”
Raju and Geeta Mahali had hosted Shah on April 25, but on Wednesday the duo joined the TMC in the presence of senior party leader and Tourism Minister Gautam Deb.
After joining the party, Geeta said that she was inspired by the developmental work done by Mamata Banerjee. She also stated that nobody had forced them to join the party.
