Launching a scathing attack on Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that West Bengal relied on her for ushering in a change, however, she broke the trust and insulted people of the state.
Addressing his first rally at Brigade Parade Ground after the announcement of the West Bengal Assembly poll schedule, the Prime Minister said there are TMC, Left and Congress on one side and people of West Bengal on the other side.
“Bengal relied on Mamata didi for change. But didi and her cadre broke this trust. These people broke the trust of Bengal. These people insulted Bengal and tortured the sisters and daughters here. But these people could not break the hope and courage of the people in the state,” he said.
“The dream of ‘Sonar Bangla’ will be fulfilled. I have come here today to assure you of Bengal’s development, to increase investment here, to protect Bengal’s culture and to bring change,” he added.
Tolabaazi, syndicate, commission cut! You have done so many scams that a ‘Corruption Olympics’ game can be organized. You have played with the hard-earned money of the people and their lives: PM @narendramodi in #Kolkata pic.twitter.com/ZbCVx9L8bx
— NewsMobile (@NewsMobileIndia) March 7, 2021
“In this Assembly elections, there are TMC, Left and Congress, and their anti-Bengal attitude on one side. On the other side, there are people of Bengal,” PM Modi said further.
The Prime Minister started his speech with slogans of Vande Matram and Bharat Mata ki Jai.
“I have had the privilege of addressing hundreds of rallies in political life, but in such a long tenure I have never been blessed with such a mass of people. During my helicopter ride, I saw people rushing towards Brigade Ground,” he said.
“This land of Bengal has given energy to our values. This land of Bengal given a new life in the freedom movement of India. This land of Bengal increased India’s pride in the science of knowledge,” he said.
Meanwhile, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee hit out at the BJP, saying the party didn’t come in the state for development but for their own promotion.
“BJP doesn’t come here for work or development, they only come for their own promotion. But before promotion they should answer why the price of LPG petrol and diesel are rising. There’ll be no ‘poriborton’ in Bengal but there will be ‘poriborton’ in Delhi,” Mamata Banerjee said.
“Poribortan (change) will happen in Delhi, not in Bengal. He (PM Modi) said there is no women security in Bengal but look at UP, Bihar & other states. Women are safe in Bengal,” she added.
Poribortan (change) will happen in Delhi, not in Bengal. He (PM Modi) said there is no women security in Bengal but look at UP, Bihar & other states. Women are safe in Bengal: #WestBengal Chief Minister @MamataOfficial in #Siliguri pic.twitter.com/XystkVDbAd
— NewsMobile (@NewsMobileIndia) March 7, 2021
She also led a “padayatra” or foot march in Siliguri to protest against the steep hike in fuel prices, including LPG cylinders.
West Bengal will witness Assembly election in eight phases starting from March 27 and polling for the last phase will take place on April 29. The counting of votes will take place on May 2.
After winning 3 seats in the 2016 Assembly election in West Bengal, the BJP made deep inroads in the state in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections winning 18 seats and reducing TMC’s tally to 22. Out of the total 42 Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal, Congress won two seats, the Left drew a blank.
(With ANI Inputs)