BJP candidate & Sandeshkali victim is 'Shakti Swaroopa': PM
Patra, who had raised her voice against the alleged atrocities by local TMC strongman Shajahan Sheikh and his cronies, was picked by the BJP as its candidate from West Bengal's Basirhat Lok Sabha seat, under which Sandeshkhali village falls.
PTI
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Rekha Patra
New Delhi, 26 March
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on
Tuesday called up the BJP's Lok Sabha poll candidate from Basirhat, Rekha
Patra, one of the Sandeshkhali victims who had highlighted the plight of women,
and lauded her as "Shakti Swaroopa'', BJP leaders said.
Patra, who had raised her voice
against the alleged atrocities by local Trinamool Congress (TMC) strongman
Shajahan Sheikh and his cronies, was picked by the BJP as its candidate from
West Bengal's Basirhat Lok Sabha seat, under which Sandeshkhali village falls.
Modi spoke to her about her
campaign preparations and the support for the BJP among voters and other
issues, while she narrated the ordeal of women in her area. Patra told Modi she
feels good that he is standing by them and said, "It is like Ram ji is
with us".
She said she has not voted since
2011 due to the situation in the area, to which Modi assured that the
Election Commission will hold free and fair elections and ensure everyone can
vote. Patra also said that the TMC supporters around her initially opposed her
candidature from the BJP, but are supporting her now. She said she has no
enmity with anyone.
She also said that she hails from a
poor family and her husband works in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. "I will do
something so that no one has to go so far for work. They will get employment
here only," she said.
PM Modi hailed her as "Shakti
Swaroopa". Shakti is a Hinduism term associated with goddesses like Durga
and Kali. "You fought the battle in Sandeshkhali, you are 'Shakti
Swaroopa'...," PM Modi said. He also said that she should take the
message to the masses about how the Trinamool Congress government
is working against the people of the state.
"Work in the midst of people,
take the message to them that the TMC government is creating problems for the
people, they do not allow implementation of the BJP (union) government schemes
in West Bengal. Tell people that they are indulging in corruption and changing
names of schemes," the prime minister was quoted as saying by a BJP
leader.
Later, while talking to reporters
in Kolkata, Patra thanked the prime minister for his "encouragement".
"I want to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modiji for his inspiring and
encouraging words. I also want to thank the BJP for nominating me from the
seat. All the women in the area are aware of the horrific experiences that we
had to go through in Sandeshkhali. The women and the locals of Sandeshkhali are
with me," she said.
Basirhat, one of the 42 Lok Sabha
seats in West Bengal, is currently represented by the TMC. Sheikh, who has been
suspended by the TMC, and some of his associates have been arrested in
connection with attacks on Enforcement Directorate officials and are in CBI
custody.
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