For News….

Comprehensive, up-to-date news coverage, aggregated from sources all over the world

India's most trusted destination for latest India news, international news, top stories, newspaper columns, discussions, interviews and more.

Latest News, News Today, Current News, Breaking News, India News, Today's News, World News, Live News.

Read all latest news from India & World on Politics, Business,Technology, Entertainment, Sports etc. Find exclusive news stories on current affairs, cricket

 

          Shah brings up Saradha, terror

A day after he was re-elected BJP national president, Shah was in Howrah - adjoining Kolkata - for the party's protest rally against "Trinamool's misrule". Ending months of silence by BJP veterans, including Rajnath Singh and Arun Jaitley, on Saradha chit fund scam, Shah trained his guns on chief minister Mamata Banerjee alleging she was involved in the mega fraud.
"Mamata Didi, 17 lakh families in Bengal are asking where's the money from Saradha, Rose Valley (chit funds)? You had promised paribartan, but you have failed on all counts. Today, the only industry surviving in Bengal is the chit fund," said Shah.               
He brought up the sale of Mamata's painting for crores of rupees. "Only the chit fund scamsters recognised Mamata Didi as a painter. That's why they bought her paintings at such exorbitant prices," said Shah.
Trinamool secretary-general Partha Chatterjee said, "They (BJP) should not talk about corruption. First, they should look into the corruption charges against their own government at Centre."
Ahead of state assembly polls, Shah's Saradha barbs were seen as a means to dispel the perception of growing Modi-Mamata proximity. The CPM has mounted a high-decibel campaign accusing "Didi bhai" of cosying up to "Modi Bhai" to escape the Saradha noose.
That had left BJP workers confused and disheartened. A reflection of which was visible at Shah's rally. BJP organisers had a tough time filling up the Dumurjola stadium grounds.
BJP had ridden the anti-Saradha wave to emerge as a prime opposition force in Bengal. In 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP raked in an unprecedented 17% votes in Bengal. The party's frotunes have shown a steep downward trend since, barring the lone victory in south Basirhat assembly seat in a bypoll.
Sensing the mood, Shah raised the pitch blaming the Trinamool for deteriorating law and order in Bengal.
Referring to a string of blasts, including at Khagragarh and Pingla, Shah said, "Is it a coincidence that blasts occur at houses which belong to those from Trinamool? Why is your party involved in these acts, Mamata Didi?"
Bengal was once the hub of industry and economic activities. "First the Congress, then the Communists and now the Trinamool have snuffed out industry from Bengal. Under Mamata Didi, Bengal has become a hub of anti-national activities," said Shah.