In a hard-hitting interview with IANS from Lucknow on January 21, UP Minister Narendra Kashyap unleashed a barrage of criticism against Mamata Banerjee’s administration in West Bengal. Aligning fully with PM Modi’s Malda rally speech, Kashyap accused the TMC supremo of fostering illegal settlements and engaging in blatant vote-bank politics that has spiraled the state into chaos.
‘The situation in West Bengal is dire because of Mamata’s infiltration-friendly approach and community-specific appeasement,’ Kashyap declared. He argued that such tactics have undermined democracy and left common people vulnerable to violence and instability.
Kashyap didn’t spare the Samajwadi Party either, mocking their repeated flops in UP elections. From shaky alliances to the much-hyped but disastrous ‘pichhda, dalit, alpasankhyak’ (PDA) formula, he said SP’s strategies have consistently alienated voters. ‘PDA is just an election-time vote-grabber with no grassroots strength,’ he scoffed.
Commenting on Uddhav Thackeray’s BMC poll drubbing, Kashyap lamented the Shiv Sena chief’s departure from his father Balasaheb’s Hindutva legacy. ‘While Balasaheb fought for Hindu honor, Uddhav twisted those ideals, prompting Maharashtra’s electorate to ditch his faction.’
The minister voiced alarm at the rising persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh, calling out the Sheikh Hasina government’s apathy amid killings and attacks. ‘India is pressing Bangladesh to safeguard its minorities; action is overdue,’ he emphasized.
Dismissing Digvijaya Singh’s barbs at RSS, Kashyap countered that the outfit embodies nationalism, unlike Congress’s role in the 1947 partition due to Nehru-Jinnah missteps. Kashyap’s remarks underscore deepening political divides ahead of key elections.