“Na Banayenge, Na Banane Denge”: Abhishek Banerjee Slams the Election Commission for Denying Bengal Govt Permission to Rebuild Houses of Tornado Victims

Trinamool Congress National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Wednesday lashed out at the Election Commission over the permission that was allegedly denied to the Bengal government to rebuild new houses for the 1,600 families in Jalpaiguri whose houses were razed down by a tornado on April 1. Banerjee alleged that people of Bengal were being denied of the funds because that rejected the BJP in the state. 

“Na banayenge, na banane denge (they won’t build, neither will they let us build) You will not build the house of the people who were affected by the storm, neither will you let the state government help them rebuild a roof above their heads. Na ghar banayunga, na ghar banane dunga (neither will they make the houses, nor will they let us build them), this is Modiji’s new model,” thundered the Trinamool Congress National General Secretary. 

4 people were killed and several others were injured after a massive storm wreaked havoc in Bengal’s Jalpaiguri district on April 1. The houses that were in the path of the tornado were absolutely flattened to the ground, rendering hundreds homeless. However, the state government was unable to provide any monetary aid to the victims due to the imposition of the Model Code of Conduct owing to the forthcoming 2024 Lok Sabha Elections. 

A Trinamool Congress delegation headed by Abhishek Banerjee had earlier met with Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose urging him to take up the matter with the Election Commission and ensure that the permission to rebuild the houses of the victims were granted. During a press conference late on Wednesday, the Diamond Harbour MP informed that the permission to build new houses for the victim families was denied by the Election Commission. Instead, the poll body had slated an amount that could be given to those affected. “The Election Commission today informed that it would not give permission to that state government to rebuild the houses… The state government has been given the permission to pay a slated amount for the damages. Rs. 5000 for partial damages, an Rs. 20,000 for severe damages,” said Abhishek Banerjee. 

The Trinamool Congress National General Secretary hit out at the BJP ruled central government for their alleged biased attitude towards the people of Bengal. Quoting a news report, he added that the Assam government was given the permission to give a Rs. 1.5 lakh rupees to 20,000 committees for Bihu celebrations during the MCC period. “Assam is ruled by the BJP, and that is why they have been given the permission, the rules and laws are different for them. But, here in Bengal, because the people of the state have rejected the BJP, that is why they release Assam’s funds, but deny the people of Bengal during the MCC period,” asserted Abhishek Banerjee. 

The Diamond Harbour MP informed that he will visit Jalpaiguri on Friday, and meet with the representatives of the 1,600 victim families. He added that the MPs who were detained by the Delhi Police for protesting outside the Election Commission’s office, demanding the removal of the heads of the central agencies, would be accompanying him so that they can narrate their “ordeals” to the people.