Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is making an attempt to divide the folks of West Bengal by in search of Muslim votes, Indian Secular Front (ISF) founder Abbas Siddiqui alleged, whereas claiming that her ploy helps the BJP within the ongoing meeting elections. The influential Muslim cleric, in an interview with PTI, alleged that the chief minister is inciting folks to resort to violence because the writing is turning into clearer on the wall that she is shedding the elections.
“Mamata Banerjee is trying to divide people by asking for Muslim votes. This is unjust. Why is she saying that Hindu and Muslim votes should not be divided? People will vote for whoever they like,” Siddiqui stated. “She is saying that the 30 per cent votes should not be divided, which means the BJP should aim for the 70 per cent votes. Doesn’t she need the 70 per cent votes? “Trying to create a divide among the people goes against the Constitution, against democracy,” he stated, referring to Banerjee’s feedback at a latest election rally that prompted the Election Commission to subject her a discover.
Siddiqui additionally accused the TMC chief of making an attempt to create a disquiet among the many Muslims by speaking in regards to the division of their votes. “She is trying to foment trouble for Muslims by asking for their votes again and again as this will lead to disquiet in the community. Ultimately Muslims will be blamed if any such things (violence) happen,” he stated.
Addressing a public assembly in Tarakeswar in Hooghly district on April 3, Banerjee had urged the folks not to divide the minority votes by listening to a “devil” (shaitaan), who she alleged has taken cash from the BJP to make communal statements and incite violence. Siddiqui stated that the chief minister ought to chorus from making private assaults and search votes with “truths”.
“I know this much that Didi is herself the BJP. How much money I have been given, go and ask her, she can say well,” he stated, whereas responding to the TMC’s allegation. Siddiqui, a ‘pirzada’ of Furfura Sharif in Hooghly district, one of many holiest shrines amongst Bengali Muslims of the state, floated the ISF in January. He then joined arms with the Left Front and the Congress, forming the ‘Sanjukta Morcha’ or United Front.
“After polling in the first three phases, I can say that Sanjukta Morcha is ahead. We are witnessing that BJP and TMC are going down, while the alliance is going up,” he stated, throughout a marketing campaign path in South 24 Parganas district. West Bengal has 30 per cent Muslim inhabitants, a deciding think about round 100-110 seats. In case of a detailed contest, the Left-Congress-ISF alliance will play a big function.
Siddiqui has been addressing back-to-back rallies in help of the alliance candidates over the previous couple of weeks, leaving no stone unturned to wield his affect within the Muslim-dominated areas in South 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly, North 24 Parganas and even Kolkata — the strongholds of the Trinamool Congress in its south Bengal bastion. His rallies are seeing important participation of younger Muslim males, who watch for hours within the warmth to get a glimpse of their ‘Bhaijaan’.
While the chief minister, the prime minister and the a number of Union ministers who’re campaigning within the state seize the airtime of Bengali information channels, Siddiqui’s supporters rely on Facebook lives and YouTube streams to broadcast the speeches of their chief and attain out to the lots. His speeches, which regularly all of a sudden flip high-pitch garnering applause, are primarily focussed on attacking the “ground-level corruption” of the TMC, and the situation of ladies in BJP-ruled states comparable to Uttar Pradesh, in addition to the Centre’s CAA-NRC pitch.
Notwithstanding the exposition that it is a bipolar election — largely a stiff contest between the TMC and the BJP, Siddiqui exuded confidence that the Left-led alliance is forming the following authorities within the state. When requested if his occasion would help the TMC in case of a hung meeting, Siddiqui stated, “There will be no need for us to support anyone. I am confident that Sanjukta Morcha will form the next government in West Bengal.” Dismissing allegations that his occasion supporters have been attacking TMC staff in pockets the place ISF has gained energy, Siddiqui blamed the chief minister for making an attempt to provoke the folks to take to violence.
“Didi is asking people to come out of their houses with ‘khunti’ (spatula). What is she trying to mean by saying all these things? She is trying to create unrest among the people, provoking them to fight among themselves, to beat up the central forces, thrash the police,” he stated. “Polling was happening peacefully but after Didi said all these things, people got provoked. Mamata Banerjee is to be blamed. She is losing the elections and that is why she is provoking people for bloodshed in West Bengal,” Siddiqui stated.
ISF is contesting 26 of the 294 meeting seats as part of the Left-led alliance. While three phases of elections have concluded, votes shall be counted on May 2.
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