Amit Shah challenges Mamta Banerjee, says BJP will form next govt in West Bengal

Union minister Amit Shah has blamed Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of "triggering riots" and "burning trains" to oppose the contentious citizenship law – protests over which was at the heart of this week's violence in Delhi that claimed 43 lives. The protests by the Bengal Chief Minister, who has been one of the staunchest critics of the law, will be of no avail, Mr Shah said, "Mamata didi can't stop it".

"I want to ask Mamata didi -- why are you hurting the interests of our refugees?" Amit Shah said at a rally in the heart of Kolkata on Sunday evening.  "You only care about infiltrators. Refugees are being misled and scared... Hindus who fled our neighbouring countries who were raped and threatened and killed... should they not get citizenship?" he said. "I thank Bengal for 18 seats in 2019 (Lok Sabha elections). Mamata used to say we will lose our deposits.

The BJP got two-crore plus votes in Bengal. Mamata-ji, just wait, in 2021 (assembly) election, we will win Bengal with clear majority," the minister said. Kicking off the BJP's campaign for the upcoming municipal elections, Shah landed in Kolkata this morning amid student protests against his presence – said the party will have an overwhelming victory in the next state assembly election.