On infiltration, he said the BJP’s approach would be, “Detect, stop, expel the infiltrators from West Bengal.”
He described the polls as a decisive battle not only politically, but for the “existence of Bengali Hindus, but also for nationalist, rational Muslims”.
Responding to allegations that the BJP seeks to impose a ‘Hindi-Hindu-Hindustan’ culture, he said, “Bengali cannot live without fish. Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s party does not need to prove whether we are Bengalis or not.”
Regarding concerns over the conduct of polls, Bhattacharya said he had faith in the Election Commission to ensure free and fair elections. “It is a commitment from them (EC) that they will hold a free, fair and bloodless election. Right now, a constitutional authority is being challenged in West Bengal. I think the guardians of the Constitution should intervene immediately,” he said.
Rejecting Banerjee’s claim that the BJP wanted to impose President’s rule, he said, “If the BJP wanted to impose President’s rule, this government could have been removed seven years ago itself. But we do not support this in principle. Mamata Banerjee will be defeated by the people’s vote.”
Addressing Muslim voters, Bhattacharya said the BJP’s message was to “enter the mainstream of national life”, focus on education and reject the politics of appeasement.
