Imtiaz Shah accuses TMC of hiding facts in Anandpur fire incident

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday slammed the Trinamool Congress, accusing the Mamata Banerjee government of organized corruption and alleging that the recent fire at a momo factory in Anandapur, which killed several workers and left many missing, was being deliberately suppressed.

Initiating his address with broader allegations against the ruling party, Mr. Shah said corruption has become the hallmark of the TMC's rule. Referring to the horrific fire in the Anandapur area of East Kolkata, he said, "This is not an accident, but a picture of Mamata Banerjee government's corruption."

Mr. Shah condoled the families of the workers who lost their lives in the fire but alleged that the tragedy was a direct result of political patronage and administrative failure. "Twenty-five people have died, and 27 are still missing. I want to ask, whose close one is the owner of this momo factory? Who did he go abroad with? And why hasn't he been arrested yet?" he asked, hinting that the factory owner enjoys protection due to his proximity to the ruling party.

The minister termed the incident a massacre and demanded impartial investigations, saying there should be a transparent inquiry into the massacre and all those responsible should be put behind bars. He also questioned the delay in the government's response, asking why the minister visited the site 72 hours after the incident, and alleged that it was an attempt to save those involved.

Warning the TMC against suppressing facts, Mr. Shah said, "You may hide it, but after April, when the BJP government comes, every culprit will be behind bars." He claimed that the Anandapur fire incident has openly exposed the involvement of people associated with the ruling party.

Mr. Shah accused the Mamata Banerjee government of promoting a culture of extortion and intimidation, saying that cut money, nephew's syndicate, and police excesses have become a daily routine in Bengal. Citing several alleged scams, Mr. Shah said that during the TMC's rule, corruption has become an institution. He referred to the cash-for-query scam, SSC recruitment scam, cattle smuggling, irregularities in MGNREGA, and the PM Housing Scheme.

Mentioning several senior TMC leaders who are facing legal action, Mr. Shah named Partha Chatterjee, Anubrata Mondal, Jyoti Priya Mallick, Firhad Hakim, Kunal Ghosh, and Chandranath Chatterjee, and challenged Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to deny tickets to such leaders.

On the political front, Mr. Shah, while detailing the BJP's electoral journey in Bengal, said the party won two seats in 2014, 18 seats with 41% votes in 2019, 37% votes and 77 seats in the 2021 assembly elections, and 39% votes in 2024.

He said, "We need to reach from 38% to 45%, and we assure you that we will form the government with 50% votes."