After the release of the election manifesto by Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the West Bengal assembly polls, Abhishek Banerjee from the Trinamool Congress compared the manifesto to promises made by chit funds, stating that BJP’s assurances hold no value. Banerjee criticized the BJP’s pledge to provide Rs 3,000 monthly allowances to unemployed youths and women as another empty promise, likening it to a ‘jumla’. He emphasized that the BJP’s tactics of enticing women and youths with false financial aid promises reveal a lack of belief in the federal democracy system.
Abhishek Banerjee further expressed his disapproval of the BJP and the Union government’s actions regarding the special intensive revision in West Bengal. He suggested that before unveiling the manifesto, the Union Home Minister should have apologized to the people of West Bengal for the harassment they endured during the revision process. Banerjee asserted that due to the harassment faced by the people, the BJP would remain in the opposition for the next two decades.
Highlighting the BJP’s track record of unfulfilled election promises, Banerjee referenced the unmaterialized commitment to repatriate black money and the adverse impact of the Goods and Services Tax implementation on the country’s economy. He accused the BJP of attempting to deprive people of their fundamental rights. Additionally, Banerjee explained the West Bengal government’s rejection of the Ayushman Bharat scheme, citing concerns that nearly 90% of the state’s population would not benefit from the insurance due to scheme conditions. Instead, the state implemented the Swastha Sathi scheme, which offers insurance benefits without imposing conditions.
