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News Desk: Union home minister Amit Shah spoke on a range of issues in West Bengal in a detailed interview.
How is it shaping up for BJP in West Bengal?
The situation is very good. People of Bengal are ready for change. We will win more than 200 seats. It will be bigger than the 2017 Uttar Pradesh win. I have been saying since 2017 that BJP will do well in Bengal. In 2019, I said we will win 21 seats. I am quite clear that the people of West Bengal have faith in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Does BJP have any candidate for Bengal CM?
We have not decided yet.
You are campaigning on a ‘double engine’ theme in West Bengal…
Since 1977, Bengal has not had the same party governing at the Centre and the state. As a result, the state GDP kept declining. Let me explain further. The Centre today transfers ₹6,000 annually to a farmer under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Yojna. I want the West Bengal farmer to also get it. Similarly, under Ayushman Bharat, for 60 crore poor people, the Centre is committed to undertake health costs up to ₹5lakh across India. But it’s not happening in West Bengal. Also, there’s no preparation for the ‘nal se jal’ scheme. West Bengal has stopped sharing data with the National Crime Records Bureau since 2018. I believe this is wrong because these statistics help in framing strategies and identifying parameters for tackling crime, so that one can improve. We had to publish the report last year without West Bengal data. We now want a government that implements all central schemes right down to the last mile. This will make a huge difference. Let me add that the money Centre sends to Bengal is not an obligation but the right of the people of Bengal, which is being snatched from them for political purposes.
How do you plan to curb Illegal immigration?
The system of stopping illegal immigration from the district collector downwards must work. At present, there is rampant corruption. No political will. Look, how the situation has improved in Assam.
Will this translate into electoral success for BJP?
In Bengal, there’s tolabaji, syndicate. Bengal fares poorly in all heads related to crime against women. The court has to intervene and order an audit on relief meant for Amphan victims. Political violence has crossed all limits. BJP alone has lost 130 workers since 2016. Such was the situation that the high court had to order during panchayat polls that nominations will be accepted on WhatsApp regardless of what the Act states. This is unheard of in any part of the country. So, somewhere all this stays in the minds of the people.
BJP today has several people from outside in its fold…
Our doors were always open to people from other parties. Earlier, no one would come. Now, they have started coming. Several leaders from other parties joined BJP and rose to the highest level. But yes, earlier, their numbers were less, now there are more such people in the party. My party has a culture, a constitution and an ideology. I have no objection to anyone who accepts these and joins us.
What’s your view on inducting professionals?
This time, many professionals are contesting polls. It’s not that just because there are professionals, we must bring them into politics. But if professionals are keen to join politics, then we should give them space because they are coming after making a contribution to a particular field. That is of use to the party and the government.
BJP has promised 33% reservation for women in jobs in West Bengal. Do you plan to replicate this in other states?
No. This is specific to Bengal, where there has been a lot of injustice to women in the past 10 years, particularly for jobs. To fill that gap we have taken a decision on 33% job reservation for women. This is only for government jobs. Women in Bengal have suffered the most under the Trinamool government. On the other hand, women have been the focus of the Modi government’s welfare schemes.
You have said if BJP wins Bengal, it will clear CAA in its first Cabinet meeting…
Wait, let me clear the confusion. I have said we will support CAA. This is a central law that the state government had opposed through a Cabinet resolution. We will reverse that.
And the next step?
The law has already been made. The question is of its implementation, framing of rules, etc. Obviously, at this time the priority is to fight corona.
