BJP trying to buy tribal votes: Mamata Banerjee

Jhargram (West Bengal), Aug 9: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday accused the BJP of misguiding the tribal and scheduled caste communities in the state and trying to buy their votes by giving them cash before the elections. Without naming BJP, the Trinamool Congress supremo also hinted that the saffron outfit was orchestrating the infiltration of Maoists into Bengal’s Jangalmahal (western districts having large forest tracts) from neighbouring Jharkhand to cause unrest in the area.

Referring to the incidents of lynching in the country, Banerjee said the BJP was not interested in people’s welfare and was always trying to divide people along communal lines. “We do not divide Hindus and Muslims, Sikhs and Chirstians. BJP, the ruling party in Delhi, does these things... They are not interested in the welfare of people. See how the dalits, tribals and minorities are being lynched across the country,” Banerjee said. (IANS)