Lok Sabha elections 2024: Oppn leaders being targeted by Modi govt, says Shatrughan Sinha

Amid ongoing Lok Sabha elections 2024 TMC MP Shatrughan Sinha who is seeking reelection from Asansol Lok Sabha constituency on Sunday alleged that opposition leaders are being targeted by the Modi government and are facing persecution from central agenciesExpressing solidarity with Delhi Chief Minister and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal who was recently granted interim bail by the Supreme Court in connection with an excise policy case Sinha told PTI Video that Kejriwal paid the price for his popularity among the peopleOpposition leaders are being targeted by the Modi government It is great to hear about Kejriwals bail He is paying the price for his popularity Sinha said Kejriwal was granted interim bail by the Supreme Court on May 10 after being arrested on March 21 by the ED in the caseOn the issue of electoral bonds Sinha who had been a BJP MP from 200919 and a former Union minister said Even the Supreme Court has declared it unconstitutionalThere is a need for transparency in funding of political parties Sinha who had joined TMC in 2022 and contested the Asansol Lok Sabha byelection successfully that year advocatedHe said comments of Parakala Prabhakar husband of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman that the electoral bond scheme is the biggest scam in the world was true About speculations surrounding potential prime ministerial candidates Sinha said he believed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has all the qualities to fit the billMamata didis leadership credentials her proven track record and her grassroots appeal make her the possible PM candidate he assertedI dont think about any other specific qualifications required to become a PM he added On the Sandeshkhali issue Sinha said the sting operation has revealed how BJP used money power to fabricate allegations by some womenTMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee has already spoken about the truth of the matter to people The issue is also in court However if any single such case of atrocity against women is found to be true I would strongly condemn that he saidExtending support to the CMs opposition to CAA and NRC Sinha said If she has given a guarantee that CAA and NRC will not be implemented in Bengal she means itThere is no confidence in Modi ki guarantee but people have confidence in Didi ki guarantee he quippedOn the issues on his plate as the candidate from Asansol which will go to polls on Monday he said The condition of coal fields is deteriorating and privatisation of those resulted in largescale unemployment The issue of waste management needs to be addressed in a city like Asansol I have tried my best to do whatever was possible in this twoyear termAsansol underwent a seismic shift as the government gradually phased out the subterranean operations in favour of opencast mines managed by contractors This transition while promising economic progress has exacted a heavy toll on the local populace he saidOn land subsidence issue in the coal belt area he said The unbridled extraction of resources has led to the sinking of landPledging to prioritise the resettlement and rehabilitation of displaced families Sinha said The families whose land sank and whose homes were damaged never met me but I am wellversed about their issueThe actorturnedpolitician fondly referred to as Bihari Babu by lakhs of his fans said he would effectively utilise the MPLAD funds and ensure transparency through comprehensive reporting mechanisms I have properly utilised the MP Development Fund during my tenure and made a comprehensive report on it which was released to the media he addedWith inputs from PTI