Union Interior Minister Amit Shah is on a two-day visit to Bengal with his sights set on the 2021 state polls
Calcutta:
An embarrassing controversy has erupted over a statue that was highlighted during Union Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Bengal’s Bankura district on Thursday.
Shah, on the first of a two-day visit to Bengal to kick-start the BJP’s preparations for next year’s Assembly elections, was in Bankura to get tribal votes. The district is part of the Jangalmahal area of Bengal, dominated by tribes.
Shah’s first stop was to garland a statue of Birsa Munda, the legendary tribal leader who fought for India’s independence and was assassinated at the young age of 25. However, at the last minute, tribal leaders pointed out to the BJP that the statue was not of Birsa Munda at all, but of a tribal hunter in general.
Noticing the misstep, BJP hastily placed a portrait of the tribal leader at the foot of the statue. Amit Shah threw petals at the statue and adorned the portrait.
After his visit, he tweeted: “Paid floral tributes to legendary tribal leader Bhagwan Birsa MundaHee in Bankura, West Bengal today. Birsa MundaHeeLife was dedicated to the rights and elevation of our tribal sisters and brothers. Their courage, struggles and sacrifices continue to inspire … “
Floral tribute to the legendary tribal leader Bhagwan Birsa Munda ji in Bankura, West Bengal today.
The life of Birsa Munda ji was dedicated to the rights and elevation of our tribal sisters and brothers. His courage, struggles and sacrifices continue to inspire us all. pic.twitter.com/1PYgKiyDuY
– Amit Shah (@AmitShah) November 5, 2020
Now, however, an organization of tribal leaders, the Bharat Jakat Majhi Pargana Mahal, has declared itself upset by what they consider an insult to Birsa Munda. Today, people from the local tribal community allegedly sprinkled Ganges water around the statue to “purify” it.
The controversy has also provided ruler Trinamool with ammunition to attack the BJP before next year’s elections.
Tribal organizations have denounced an insult for the confusion of the BJP statue
‘Bohiragato‘they are back! The Union Interior Minister Amit Shah is so ignorant of Bengal culture that he insulted Bhagwan Birsa Munda by placing a garland of the wrong idol and placing his photo at the foot of another person. Will Bengal ever respect? ”He tweeted the game this morning.
Trinamool MP Nusrat Jahan referred to Birsa Munda’s misstep and Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar episode: a statue of the legendary 19th century reformer was vandalized, allegedly by BJP workers, ahead of the Lok Sabha polls in May. , to criticize BJP’s “blatant disrespect for Bengal’s legendary icons”.
“From Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar to Birsa Munda, what is this blatant disrespect for the legendary icons of Bengal, Amit ShahHee? How many more times will Bengal’s culture and heritage be misused for political propaganda? “
Shah is in Bengal to galvanize party leaders and workers and sharpen efforts to seize power from Banerjee’s Trinamool. 200 out of 294 seats – that’s the goal the interior minister set for his party during his energetic speech yesterday.
Standing on the podium on the Bankura stage, Shah said: “… today I say this in Bankura that, with the blessing of Birsa Munda, BJP will come to power with at least 200 seats.”
During his speech yesterday, he also claimed that he could feel “massive public anger against Mamata Banerjee’s government” and that the “death sentence” of his administration had been given.
The formation of the Bengal government has been a long-standing goal of the BJP, which has never ruled the state, particularly after a fierce campaign during last year’s Lok Sabha elections.
The BJP posted strong gains in parliamentary polls, winning 18 seats (down from just two in 2014) out of 42 seats, and is now a real threat to Banerjee and his fight for a third consecutive term.
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