Amit Shah is on a two-day visit to West Bengal ahead of the state assembly elections.
Calcutta:
The two-day visit by Union Interior Minister Amit Shah to West Bengal, bound for the polls, waging a war of attrition against the ruling Trinamool Congress, has sparked sharp responses from the party’s online front.
In a slew of tweets, the official Trinamool Twitter user and those of some party leaders have attacked and mocked Mr. Shah in recent days, focusing on his political gestures and campaign material during the high-decibel visit on 19 and December 20, in addition to making use of critical news reports.
One of the tweets, posted by the party’s official account, taunted him during his Saturday lunch at a farmer’s home in Belijuri, West Midnapore. The only comment on the tweet, along with a photo of him having lunch, was “Oops!” and a “surprise” emoji.
What made the tweet scathing was another tweet quoted by him. This one, published by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s personal contact in April 2014, read: “Congressional leaders specialize in poverty tourism. With cameras, they go to villages, sit with the poor, eat their food and do click on the photos “.
Whoops! ???? https://t.co/SSuQT1bWWEpic.twitter.com/3bINTNq1Iw
– All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) December 19, 2020
Another TMC post focused on a poster with Mr. Shah at the top, a local BJP leader at the bottom, and a sketch by Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore placed in the middle.
Using #BJPInsultsTagore, the December 18 tweet criticized the BJP leader and the party’s state unit for allegedly disrespecting the revered philosopher and poet by placing the image of the Union Minister above. “It is very shameful to see that you have placed yourself above Gurudeb! The people of Bengal will NEVER forgive this!” He said.
The same poster was criticized by Trinamool Secretary General Partha Chatterjee, who called Mr. Shah “pompous” and an “outsider” disconnected from “Bengal culture”.
Sir @AmitShah, Its pompous nature and disconnect with Bengal culture has come to the surface once again!
He’s so caught up in the electoral fever that respect for our leaders has clearly taken a back seat. This is exactly why they will remain ‘outsiders’ to us!#BJPInsultsTagorepic.twitter.com/RCNgTdsnBL
– Partha Chatterjee (@itspcofficial) December 18, 2020
In another Tweet, Chatterjee cited a news report about the BJP’s alleged manipulation of public opinion during the nationwide anti-citizenship law agitation last year. He accused the party of abusing its power to manipulate public opinion. He tapped Prime Minister Modi’s handle to ask why he, “instead of spending money to get support for CAA,” did not focus on hot topics like recession and unemployment.
Shah’s visit to West Bengal comes months before the state assembly elections and is likely to become a recurring issue until then. On Saturday in Medinipur, several Trinamool leaders, including Suvendu Adhikari, joined the BJP in their presence.
The BJP is investing unprecedented amounts of time and resources in the state before the elections, seeking to replace the Trinamool Congress led by Mamata Banerjee from power.
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