Siliguri, 17th August: During a press conference in Siliguri on Tuesday, Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs John Barla took a jibe at the state’s ruling party and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee after several BJP activists including MLA Shankar Ghosh were detained during their Yuva Sankalpa Yatra.
“What did the Trinamool Congress do for the minority people? They only collected votes and took advantage of politics. Nothing has been done for the development of the people,” Barla alleged.
It is to be noted, the Union Minister landed at Bagdogra airport on Tuesday morning, where he was felicitated by the BJP leaders and workers. Following this, he held a press conference at the party office near Mallaguri. Darjeeling MP Raju Bista, Jalpaiguri MP Jayanta Roy and BJP MLAs were also present at the press conference.
John Barla called the arrest of the BJP leaders and workers today a cowardly act of the Trinamool Congress. “People are watching everything and will respond to it in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The public has shown confidence in us in the assembly elections,” he added.
Alleging that TMC won more votes in the polls by cheating. The Minister further stated that the Prime Minister wishes to develop Bengal but the state government is causing conflicts with the centre.
In the press conference, MP Raju Bista also expressed his displeasure over the arrest of BJP leaders and activists during the Yuva Sankalpa Yatra in Siliguri.