'Corona Express' remark will be Mamata's exit route: Amit Shah

Kolkata : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress over the alleged culture of political violence that has been continuing across the state ever since the Mamata Banerjee-led government stormed to power.

"Over 100 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers have been killed in political violence in the state since 2014. Their sacrifice will not go in vein.

We not only want to expand our political influence in Bengal, but we also want to rid Bengal of the violent political environment under the Trinamool regime," Shah told during a virtual 'Jan Samvad Rally'.

Trinamool Congress on Tuesday said the saffron party was "hungry for votes" even when the state was battling the double whammy of COVID-19 and destruction caused by Cyclone Amphan.

Calling to restore its lost cultural glory, Shah said Bengal was the only state where political violence took place even during the Covid-19 lockdown. Shah urged the people of West Bengal to vote for the BJP in the coming Assembly elections scheduled next year.

"It is only BJP that can change the political culture of Bengal. I appeal to the people of the state to give Modi Ji a chance for corruption and violence-free Bengal.

People of Bengal who voted against the Communist rule in 2011 expecting development are now saying that even the Communists were better than the Trinamool Congress," Shah said, sounding the poll bugle for Assembly elections in the state which are still months away.

"Didi has insulted these migrant workers by calling Shramik Special trains 'Corona Express'. Now these migrant workers will ensure the exit of Trinamool Congress from the seat of power in Bengal," he said.

Shah also attacked the Bengal government over its alleged failure to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.