PM Modi said that the Left Front and TMC governments have not done enough for irrigation in Purulia.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday launched a scathing attack on TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee over her "khela hobe" remark. Addressing a poll rally in Purulia, PM Modi said that the region is facing huge water crisis due to inaction of the Trinamool Congress. He said that the Left, TMC governments neglected industrial development of Purulia.
"TMC government has given Purulia only water crisis, forced migration and administration that discriminates," he said, adding that "the TMC has created a new breed of Maoists in Bengal who loot public money".
He then said that the TMC will be punished for 10 years of misrule and politics of appeasement.
"Bengal remembers who accused army of plotting coup, whose side you took during Pulwama attack," he said. Raising the issue of infiltration, he said, "Appeasement, vote bank politics behind infiltration in Bengal."
The Prime Minister said that works in Bengal under Eastern Dedicated Corridor project will be fast-tracked and assured the people of activities for all-round development.
BENGAL POLLS 2021 FULL COVERAGE
Attacking the TMC government over 'cut money' culture, he said, "We believe in Direct Benefit Transfer while TMC believes in transfer my commission.'
He alleged that the TMC never considered Dalits, backwards, adivasis its own, they are worst victims of cut money culture and 'Tolabaji' by ruling party.
On Nandigram incident, PM Modi said: "Bengal made up its mind long back. It is been saying 'Lok Sabha mein TMC half aur iss baar poori saaf'. Seeing this determination, didi is taking out her frustration on me. But for us, she is a daughter like crores of daughters of India. Respect for them is part of our culture. That is why we were concerned when didi got injured. I pray to God that her leg injury heals soon."
The BJP and ruling Trinamool Congress are spearheading intense election campaign. The saffron party has deployed its enviable political machinery to capture power in the state which it has never ruled. The party made deep inroads in the eastern state by winning 18 of its 42 Lok Sabha seats in 2019 - only four less than ruling TMC.
The BJP is now projecting itself as an alternative to the Trinamool Congress which is ruling the state since 2011 under Mamata Banerjee’s leadership. The party is organising a series of events wherein it is highlighting the failures of the TMC's rule with a focus on political killings, minority appeasement, and poor handling of the COVID-19 situation.
The BJP expects to repeat the 2019 performance in the upcoming Assembly elections. Elections to the 294-member assembly will be held in eight-phase from March 27 to April 29. Results will be declared on May 2.
PM Modi's rally in Karimganj
PM Modi also visited Assam today to address an election rally in Karimganj. Addressing the gathering, PM Modi accused the Congress of doing nothing to improve the connectivity of the region with other parts of the country. He stressed that the BJP government worked at a rapid pace to address the issue.
"Decades ago, this entire region was one that had better connectivity. However, the Congress' corrupt and vote-bank based governance had made Assam one of the most disconnected states in India," PM Modi said.
"Today there is a wave of development and trust in Assam. There is only one issue in Assam today — development," he added.
The saffron party won for the first time in Assam in 2016 by dethroning the Congress. The party has set a target of winning 100 plus seats in the 126-member House this election. The BJP is contesting elections in an alliance with the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the United People's Party Liberal (UPPL).
Polling is scheduled to be held in the northeastern from March 27 to April 6 in three phases. The first phase on March 27 will cover 47 seats. The second phase on April 1 will cover 39 seats and the third phase on April 6 will cover 40 seats. Results will be declared on May 2. The tenure of the 126 members House will expire on May 31. In the previous elections held in 2016, the BJP-led had secured 80 seats.
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