Kolkata, Jan 2: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) government during his visit to West Bengal, alleging that the state has been marked by “fear, corruption and misgovernance” over the past decade.
Addressing a press conference in Kolkata, Shah said the period leading up to the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections would be crucial for the state. He claimed that under 15 years of TMC rule, West Bengal has witnessed widespread corruption, stalled development and insecurity among citizens, which he attributed in part to alleged infiltration.
“The people of Bengal have lived with fear, corruption and misgovernance for the last several years. Infiltration has created worry and insecurity among citizens,” Shah said.
The Home Minister asserted that if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is voted to power in the 2026 Assembly polls, the party would take decisive steps to address these issues.
He announced that a future BJP government in the state would construct a “national grid” aimed at stopping infiltration.
Shah also accused the TMC government of allowing corruption to derail development and central welfare schemes. “All beneficial schemes launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi have become victims of toll syndicates in West Bengal. Due to corruption, development in the state has come to a standstill,” he alleged.
Reiterating the BJP’s promises, Shah said the party would focus on reviving Bengal’s heritage and culture while prioritising the welfare of the poor.
“After April 15, 2026, when a BJP government is formed in West Bengal, we will begin the revival of Bengal’s heritage and culture, and the river of development will flow in the state,” he said.
Describing West Bengal as historically significant for the BJP, Shah said, “This ‘Banga Bhoomi’ holds great importance for us because the BJP was founded by Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee, a great leader from this land.”
The TMC has repeatedly rejected BJP allegations, asserting that the state has made progress on development and social welfare under Mamata Banerjee’s leadership.
