Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Jan 17: Coining a new slogan for the coming West Bengal state Assembly elections “Paltano darkar, chayee BJP sarkar” (There is need for change, need BJP government), the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched an all-out attack on the Mamata Banerjee government branding it as a “heartless cruel government.”
Giving a clarion call for change and a clear pitch for a BJP-led government in the state, the state government has kept people away from Centre’s Ayushman Bharat scheme, that provides free access to health insurance coverage for low income earners in the country. “Heartless, cruel TMC government is looting public money, preventing central aid from reaching Bengal people,” PM Modi said while addressing a public meeting after flagging off Vande Bharat sleeper trains at Malda.
“Bengal is surrounded on all sides by BJP Governments that stand for good governance. Now it is time for good governance in Bengal too,” he said and claimed that the young generation in the country the Gen-Z have favoured the BJP governments for initiating all-round developments. Assembly elections are due in West Bengal in the first half of this year and the BJP is aiming to wrest power from the TMC government which has been ruling since 2011.
Slogan war is not new in West Bengal. The previous assembly elections in the state saw a fierce battle of catchphrases, with the Trinamool Congress rallying supporters around “khela hobey [game on]” to project a fight-ready image, while the BJP countered by spinning TMC-coined slogans and its long used “Didi O Didi”, targeting chief minister Mamata Banerjee over governance and alleged corruption.
PM Modi also tapped on the Maharashtra urban local body election results, highlighting what he described was BJP’s “historic victory” in the polls. “In particular, the BJP has secured a record victory for the first time in Mumbai, in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), one of the world’s largest municipal corporations, which is a significant development in Maharashtra politics,” he said.
“A few days ago, the BJP also elected its first mayor in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala. This shows that even in places where winning elections was once considered impossible for the BJP, the party is now receiving unprecedented support,” PM Modi said, signalling at his part’s potential to win outside its strongholds.
“This demonstrates the immense trust that the country’s voters, especially the younger generation, have in the BJP’s development model. Even in areas where lies and rumours were spread about the BJP for years, voters are now giving us their blessings. Seeing your enthusiasm today, I am confident that this time the people of Bengal will also ensure a resounding victory for the BJP,” PM Modi said.
“The heartless and cruel Trinamool government is looting public money and preventing central aid from reaching the people in Bengal, PM Modi said asserting that development would reach Bengal only after the Trinamool was defeated and the BJP comes to power. Accusing the Trinamool of shielding the infiltrators, he asserted, “Big action will be taken against infiltration once the BJP comes to power in Bengal.”
The Prime Minister also reiterated that infiltration posed one of the biggest challenges before Bengal, asserting that even prosperous countries across the world were taking firm steps to identify and deport illegal migrants. “Infiltration is a very big challenge before Bengal. There are developed and prosperous countries in the world which have no shortage of money, yet they are removing infiltrators. It is equally necessary to remove infiltrators from West Bengal,” he noted.
Linking recent incidents of violence to the issue, the Prime Minister claimed riots had erupted in several parts of the State, including Malda and Murshidabad, due to infiltration. He alleged that the TMC’s “syndicate” system was actively working to ensure infiltrators were settled in Bengal, leading to demographic changes in many areas.
At the rally, Mr Modi congratulated the Bengal people for getting country’s first Vande Bharat sleeper train and four new Amrit Bharat trains. He said, “Doing my best to ensure all homeless people of Bengal get pucca houses, access to clean drinking water.”