The BJP said that the virtual gathering of Amit Shah in Bengal was a “huge success”.
New Delhi:
A photo of villagers huddled around an LED television set on a bamboo shrub in isolated West Bengal sparked a storm of reaction on Twitter at a time when large parts of the state are struggling to recover from the devastation of cyclone Amphan and India struggling with the coronavirus crisis.
The BJP had installed 70,000 flat-screen TVs and 15,000 giant LED screens across the state on Tuesday for the virtual gathering of Interior Minister Amit Shah, who launched his campaign for assembly elections slated for next year, party sources told reporters. The state has about 78,000 voting booths.
BJP National Secretary General BL Santhosh tweeted a photo of villagers watching Mr. Shah on one of the televisions, saying it was a sign of “the party’s relentless pursuit in the past five years”.
People in remote villages of West Bengal listening @AmitShah while #BJPJanSamvad . It’s the scope @ BJP4Bengal has achieved through the relentless pursuit over the past 5 years. People want better days. pic.twitter.com/hBpzysKDNU
– B L Santhosh (@blsanthosh) June 10, 2020
But the image also aroused consternation from political opponents of the party, Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party.
Uttar Pradesh Congress Chief Rakesh Sachan said the BJP could not send 7,500 rupees to the poor and workers affected by the coronavirus shutdown, or organize transportation for them, but did everything to promote its election campaign.
बिहार चुनाव में गाँव के जंगल में 20 हज़ार की एलईडी लगवा सकते है लेकिन ग़रीब, मजदूरों के खाते में 7500 रुपये नही डाल सकते, उन्हें उनके गृहजनपद बस-ट्रेन से भिजवा नही सकते। ऐसी नीच राजनीति जनता सब याद रखेगी। @[email protected]/nspiN4T5dw
– राकेश सचान #StayHomeSaveLives (@Rakesh_Sachan_) June 10, 2020
The Aam Aadmi Party held a photo caption contest and, in a photo of a BJP slogan, also said: “LED screens instead of fans. The country is changing.”
Legend? pic.twitter.com/r9s1StcoK8
– AAP (@AamAadmiParty) June 10, 2020
Many Twitter users also commented on the photo.
Migrant workers have not yet reached their homes in Bihar, but the BJP LED has reached them before.
Finally the best use of Hawala “PM Cares Fund”.
Thank you Modi Ji, it’s #Lajawab ????????#JhootiHaiBiharSarkarpic.twitter.com/CdO9R9Q03c
– Abhishek Singh | अभिषेक सिंह (@ abhishek3454) June 10, 2020
Do not have money to bring migrants home, but could drive 72,000 LEDs to campaign in remote areas of bihar. Serving dirty BJP politicians! The only things they can do with skill spread lies, make jhumlas and polarize! pic.twitter.com/kcQtrYm1BQ
– HM JUNAID AHMED (@ HMJUNAIDAHMED3) June 10, 2020
BJP has a lot of money to install LED screens. And hire people to show that they are supporters. @ttindia sums up what this virtual rally consisted of: “crows CAA, CAA” ???????? https://t.co/mKfK2h2f3J
– Subrata Roy (@subrata_tamal) June 10, 2020
LED instead of the fan. The BJP only needs governance in all states by hooking or scammer. Regarding the fan, everyone had seen the quality of the fan ordered in Gujarat recently by the best BJP brass. https://t.co/5h6avpITF2
– Nesar Ahmed Ansari (@nesar_dhn) June 10, 2020
The BJP said on Tuesday that Amit Shah’s virtual rally was a “huge success” as more than two million people across West Bengal watched it, an assertion that the ruling Trinamool Congress called “far reality”.
Mr. Shah addressed the rally from New Delhi as part of the BJP’s national campaign “Jan Samvad” which he says has nothing to do with the elections but has already covered Bihar and Bengal – of states going to the polls.
Praising his government’s commitment to migrant workers and the poor, hundreds of thousands of thousands of whom have been left without income, food and shelter due to the country’s sudden closure, M. Shah said the BJP would emerge victorious from the two states.
