In an attempt to reach out to people ahead of the panchayat polls in West Bengal and the Lok Sabha elections next year, the BJP’s West Bengal unit has decided to embark on a month-long ‘Jan Sampark’ Yatra across the state.
The decision was taken during the party’s state executive meeting at National Library in Kolkata on Sunday.
Sources said the yatra was aimed at countering Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee’s ‘Nobojowar Yatra’ which has received a positive response from people.
The BJP yatra that will commence on May 30 will conclude on June 30, it is learnt.
Speaking to reporters, Leader of Opposition in Assembly Suvendu Adhikari said, “Through this yatra, we will reach out to the people of Bengal, especially those living in rural areas. Our meetings will witness the real “jan jowar” (sea of crowd) and not the ‘jan sanjog yatra’ (mass outreach programme) of ‘bhaipo’ (nephew). This yatra will reflect the real pulse of people which is with the BJP.”
On Saturday, Banerjee was questioned by the CBI for over nine hours in connection with school jobs scam in the state.
BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar also claimed that Banerjee’s body language on Saturday showed that he was frightened.
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“This is just the beginning and many more calls are waiting (for him) from the CBI and ED. He is scared and his body language showed that the questions were sharp,” he said.
Reacting to BJP’s attack against Banerjee, TMC state general secretary Kunal Ghosh said, “A vindictive government at the Centre is using central agencies to harass and intimidate our leader Abhishek Banerjee on trumped-up charges.
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The more BJP uses such tactics, the more people of Bengal will fight against these forces. We are not shaken. It is the BJP which is shaken by seeing a massive support for Abhishek Banerjee and Mamata Banerjee.”
© The Indian Express (P) Ltd