Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal, while campaigning for Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, made the deployment of central security personnel in the state a key election issue. Kejriwal asked the Bengal public, “Para forces from across the country have been sent to Bengal. Are you not Indians? Are you terrorists?”
Campaigning in Beliaghata for TMC candidate Kunal Ghosh ahead of the second phase of Assembly polls, Kejriwal said the Bengal election was “to save India and democracy” and accused the BJP of using its full machinery in the state.
He questioned why the BJP had sent paramilitary forces to Bengal and framed the election as a battle to protect democracy and Bengali identity.
Kejriwal also alleged that around 27 lakh names had been deleted from the voter list in West Bengal, claiming the move could affect citizenship status and access to welfare benefits.
“If your vote is not there, what will happen to your future? They might say you are not Indian. These 27 lakh voters could be removed from the government schemes,” he said.
Urging those whose names were allegedly deleted to back the ruling party, he said they should become Mamata Banerjee’s “soldiers” and campaign door-to-door for the TMC.
The AAP chief also appealed to Congress and Left supporters to vote for the Trinamool Congress to defeat the BJP.
Launching a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kejriwal said Indians had “started to hate PM Modi” and claimed he was being mocked internationally.
Warning voters against supporting the BJP, he said, “If you vote for the BJP to power, you will stop getting Rs 1500 every month. Galti se Kamal ka button mat dabana dena (Don’t press on lotus symbol by mistake),” referring to the BJP’s election symbol.
Kejriwal also claimed the BJP had reversed several welfare measures introduced by AAP in Delhi and alleged similar schemes in Bengal would be stopped if the party came to power.
Kejriwal, who’s party suffered setback after 7 Rajya Sabha MPs merged with BJP just 2 days ago, arrived in Kolkata on Saturday night to join the TMC campaign trail, in a show of INDIA bloc unity ahead of the final phase of polling.
The second and final phase of voting for the 294-member West Bengal Assembly will be held on April 29, while counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.
