
Amit Shah Made several promises on Wednesday targeted at North Bengal, including withdrawal of “false” cases against Gorkha representatives and inclusion of Rajbanshi language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, which recognizes official languages in India.
He said the Center was already working on a solution to the Gorkhaland issue, for which it had appointed an interlocutor and held three meetings in Delhi to find a solution, but CM Mamata Banerjee had refused to attend it. He said, “The people of Darjeeling are true patriots. They deserve their rights and justice, which have been denied to them.”
Addressing an election rally in Jalpaiguri, Shah said the BJP government would withdraw every false case registered against political workers, regardless of party affiliation, and end what he called “police raj” in Bengal.
He specifically mentioned the Gorkha representatives facing hundreds of cases. Shah also warned Trinamool workers against violence on polling day and referred to the attack on the convoy of BJP candidate Rathindranath Bose. He said, “I am warning Trinamool goons to stay indoors on April 23. Otherwise they will be behind bars after May 5.” He said the BJP would end “mafia raj”.
At a rally in Falakata, Shah accused the state government of “step-motherly” behavior towards North Bengal and promised to increase the wages of tea garden workers by Rs 500 and create a dedicated battalion in the state police for the region. Raising the issue of women’s safety, Shah cited the incidents of RG Kar, Sandeshkhali and Durgapur Medical College. He said, “If BJP forms the government, women will be able to move around freely even at midnight.”