Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a scathing attack on the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal on Saturday, alleging that the devastating eastern Kolkata warehouse fire that claimed 27 lives was not an accident but a direct consequence of systemic corruption within the ruling party. Addressing BJP workers in Barrackpore on the outskirts of Kolkata, Shah held the Mamata Banerjee-led administration fully responsible for the tragedy, citing failures in governance, enforcement, and victim support.
Warehouse Fire: A Result of Corruption, Says Shah
Shah pointed specifically to two warehouses in Kolkata that were gutted in the blaze—one owned by Pushpanjali Decorators and another partly leased to the pan-India fast-food chain Wow! Momo. He alleged that Trinamool Congress members were involved in the incident and that the structures lacked essential environmental clearances while being illegally constructed on protected wetlands. "This was not an accident," Shah declared, emphasizing that proper safety norms had been blatantly ignored.
Demand for Investigation and Electoral Challenge
The Home Minister demanded a thorough and impartial investigation into the fire, questioning the political connections behind the momo factory operating inside the warehouse. "Why did this happen? Who had invested in the momo factory?" he asked, suggesting possible illicit financial interests. Shah further challenged Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to field 23 Trinamool politicians currently facing corruption allegations as candidates in the upcoming assembly elections, claiming she would not dare because they might turn witnesses against her nephew.
Personal Attack on Mamata Banerjee and Dynasty Politics
In a sharply personal critique, Shah mocked Mamata Banerjee's affection for her nephew, Abhishek Banerjee, who serves as the TMC national general secretary and is often referred to as "bhaipo" in Bengal's political circles. "Mamata didi needs a cataract operation because she can't see properly. She is blinded by her affection for her nephew," Shah stated, accusing her of shielding him from accountability. He claimed that had the victims been "infiltrators," Banerjee would have reacted differently, highlighting what he described as votebank politics over genuine governance.
BJP's Promises and Political Strategy
Shah promised that if the BJP is elected to power in Bengal following the assembly elections in April, all corruption cases would be investigated under the supervision of the Supreme Court. He assured that the culprits behind the warehouse fire would be identified and imprisoned. Addressing party workers, Shah expressed confidence in the BJP's electoral prospects, projecting a vote share exceeding 50% in the 2026 polls. He noted the party's performance in recent elections—41% in 2019, 38% in 2021, and 39% in 2024—and emphasized the need to surpass 45%, framing a change in government as a "fitting tribute" to Syama Prasad Mukherjee.
Broader Allegations and Community Concerns
Expanding his criticism beyond the fire incident, Shah alleged that the Bengal government had failed to provide land to the Border Security Force for constructing a proposed fence along the India-Bangladesh border, compromising national security. He also sought to reassure the Matua and Namashudra communities amid the Election Commission's SIR exercise, accusing the TMC of intimidating these groups. Shah condemned the police for allegedly beating BJP workers who attempted to protest the warehouse fire, stating, "She should be ashamed," in reference to the Chief Minister.
Throughout his addresses in Kolkata and later at a public meeting in Siliguri in north Bengal, Shah consistently linked the tragedy to broader issues of corruption, dynasty politics, and administrative failure under the Trinamool Congress regime, positioning the BJP as the alternative committed to justice and transparency.
