The Left and Trinamool have ignored the basic needs of the people of Bengal, PM Modi said
Prime Minister Narendra Modi intensified his criticism of the Trinamool Congress over corruption and dynastic politics and accused the Opposition INDIA bloc parties such as the TMC and Congress of prioritising their families' interests over the nation's development.
Emphasising the need to oust the Mamata Banerjee-led government from power in Bengal, PM Modi rallied his supporters saying, "The door to oust the corrupt TMC government from Bengal goes through the Lok Sabha polls."
"The TMC government is anti-Dalit, anti-tribal, anti-OBC, and anti-women. The TMC government has committed a scam in the ration scheme. Their leaders and ministers are in jail for the ration scam. The party is looting the people of Bengal," PM Modi said in Siliguri.
Reaching out to the people of north Bengal, where the BJP had bagged seven of the eight Lok Sabha seats in 2019, PM Modi highlighted the BJP's agenda for the development of north Bengal, focusing on infrastructure and the promotion of "tea-timber-tourism".
He criticised past administrations, alleging neglect of the region's needs, particularly under the rule of the Left and TMC governments.
"The struggles and aspirations of the people of the area were ignored first by the Leftists and then by the TMC. They were busy seizing the lands of the poor," PM Modi said listing that BJP's initiatives such as the PM Ujjwala Yojana, which provides free gas connections, are not allowed in Bengal by the TMC, depriving over 14 lakh women.
Reaching out to the Gorkha community of north Bengal, PM Modi said the BJP sympathises with the aspirations and challenges of the Gorkha brothers.
"The BJP is determined to realise every aspiration. After decades of waiting, Ayodhya finally got its Ram Mandir, and Jammu and Kashmir got rid of Article 370. We have addressed the issues of the Adivasi community and worked tirelessly to resolve all your issues.
"We have made continuous efforts to address your concerns. The BJP will continue its efforts to fulfil your solution," he said.
The Gorkha community in Darjeeling has been demanding a separate state comprising Darjeeling and parts of north Bengal.
Hitting out at the dynastic politics of the Opposition, PM Modi said, "The TMC is only bothered about its nephew while the Congress is bothered only about the royal family."
"As I work for the development of the poor, the leaders of the INDI alliance such as TMC and Congress don't like me. The TMC is worried about their nephew. The Congress wants to promote the sons and daughters of their royal family. The Left wants to maintain coordination with these two so that they are in the fray.
"These people do not care about your children. If there is anyone who cares about the future of your children, it is Modi, BJP, and the NDA alliance. That is why today every person in the country is saying, 'Main hoon Modi ka parivar (I am Modi's family)'," he said.
Referring to recent incidents in Bengal's Sandeshkhali, where allegations of sexual abuse against TMC leaders surfaced, PM Modi criticised the state for its alleged apathy towards the women.
"Today, what the TMC leaders have done to the poor, the Dalit, and the tribal sisters in Sandeshkhali is being discussed in the entire country. The atrocities on women and looting the earnings of the poor have been the hallmark of TMC's goons and extortionists," he said.
He also accused the TMC of embezzling funds meant for welfare schemes like MGNREGA, citing fake job cards being created to siphon off central funds.
"I have seen mothers of our country struggling for basic amenities. That is why I lay stress on sanitation, free electricity, bank accounts and tap water to make the lives of our mothers and sisters easier. But here, first, the Left Front and then the TMC government have ignored the basic needs of the people of the state," he said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)