Hooghly, April 23 -- Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday launched a blistering attack on the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal, alleging that people in the state are forced to pay what he termed the "Bhaipo Tax" under a "syndicate" system run by the Trinamool Congress (TMC).

While addressing a public meeting in Balagarh, Shah said, "Bengalis have to pay 'Bhaipo Tax' to the TMC's syndicate. Bid farewell to the Mamata government with Tata-Bye-Bye, and we will take care of straightening out the syndicate people."

He alleged that the syndicate system had crippled local industries, particularly the traditional boat-making sector in the region.

"Balagarh's boat industry once provided employment, but the Mamata syndicate has bro...