Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an election campaign for West Bengal Assembly polls, at Krishnanagar in Nadia district.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday accused the ruling TMC of perpetuating a culture of violence in West Bengal, where five people were killed during polling, including four in firing by the CISF, and requested the Election Commission to take stern action against those responsible.
Modi, who addressed two rallies at Siliguri and Krishnanagar in Nadia district, also accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of instigating people against central forces and said the problem lay with her politics of "rigging elections and violence".
Mamata Didi and TMC goons have become jittery: PM Modi
"What happened in Cooch Behar is unfortunate and sad. I extend my condolences to the bereaved families and request the Election Commission to take stern action against those responsible for the incident."
"Mamata Didi and her TMC goons have become jittery because of the groundswell of support for BJP. She is instigating people against the security forces. Didi is giving instructions on how to gherao and beat up our security forces. Is this the way you treat our brave hearts? She has stooped to
this level as she can see her chair slipping away," Modi told an election rally in Siliguri in North Bengal.
Four people were killed when CISF personnel opened fire allegedly after coming under attack from locals, who "attempted to snatch their rifles" in Sitalkuchi in Cooch Behar district.
In a separate incident in the same constituency, a first-time voter was shot dead by unidentified miscreants outside a polling booth.
Making a strong defence of the central paramilitary forces deployed for election duty in Bengal amid allegations of high handedness by the TMC, Modi said they recently facilitated polls in four other states and there were no complaints.
"The Central forces conduct elections throughout the country. They conduct free and fair elections. Recently they conducted polls in four other states. There were no issues," he said.
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The problem is not with the central forces, Didi: PM Modi
"Actually, the problem is not with the central forces, Didi. It's with your politics of violence and rigging. Didi is angry as her goons are unable to do 'chappa' (rig ballots) due to the presence of central forces," he said.
The prime minister said Banerjee was finding fault with EVMs and the Election Commission as she had sensed her defeat.
"She has used 'gaali' (foul language) for EVMs, the EC and central forces. She's now using abusive words even against her own polling agents as she has sensed defeat."
"Didi, this violence, the tactic of instigating people to attack the security forces, the tactic of obstructing the polling process will not protect you. You have to go out of power," he said.
Modi said Banerjee did not get angry at the goons who persecuted the poor for 10 years, the murderers, the robbers, but is angry at the security forces who are protecting the rights of the people of Bengal.
"Didi, you don't preside over the destiny of the people of Bengal, they are not your 'jagir' (fiefdom). You will not decide the destiny of the people of Bengal. Didi's days of misrule are numbered. She is angry because people of Bengal have showered their love on me," he said.
North Bengal, he said, was critical to national security which has been undermined due to the appeasement politics of Banerjee. The prime minister said the situation will be dealt with firmly by the BJP government.
Bengal will be free from cut money culture if BJP comes to power: PM Modi
"If BJP comes to power, Bengal will be free from cut money culture. We will work day and night for the development of the state. We are committed to freeing the 3Ts (Tea, Tourism and Timber) from the control of mafia," he asserted.
Reaching out to the numerically strong Dalit Rajbongshi and Matua communities, Modi said the TMC insults them and claimed a party leader was shown in a video likening the scheduled caste people to beggars.
"Your ego has reached such a level, Didi, that you and your leaders insult the scheduled castes. This is shameful," he said.
Modi demanded an account of work done by Banerjee and her nephew. The BJP has often targeted Abhishek Banerjee, the Diamond Harbour MP and Banerjee's nephew over alleged corruption in government schemes.
"Didi never presented her report card for 10 years. She should be giving the account of her works, her nephew's works and her goons' works," he said.
"People of Bengal and not BJP contesting this election against Banerjee's misrule"
While addressing a rally at Krishnanagar, Modi said the people of Bengal and not the BJP are contesting this election against Banerjee's misrule.
"People of Bengal are contesting elections against you, you can defeat BJP but how will you beat people," he asked.
Reaching out to Muslim women, Modi said Banerjee did injustice to them by trying to obstruct the enactment of the law to ban instant triple talaq.
"Despite all the love they lavished on Didi, she stood against Muslim mothers and sisters on the issue of triple talaq and rallied behind fundamentalists," Modi said.
West Bengal of 2021, he said, will not allow anybody to tinker with democracy.
"After years of bloodshed, fear, atrocity and goondaism, Bengal will now walk towards peace and progress to fulfil the vision of 'Sonar Bangla'. This land will be free of mafia, cow traffickers and infiltrators," he asserted.
Hitting out at the TMC government over unemployment, Modi wondered what did Mamata Banerjee do for the youth of Bengal. Even the minority community is in distress due to cut money and syndicate, he alleged.
"From May 2 (when votes will be counted) government's decisions will be taken by the government and not the tolabaj (extortionist). The administration and police will make their own decisions not the tolabaj. This time the Kalbaisakhi (Norwester) storm will also blow away the TMC government and its goons," he asserted.
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