"Bengal has made up its mind", Modi mocks Mamta

PM attacked Mamta Banerjee during Election Campaign

As the election campaign progressed in West Bengal, the rivalry between Mamta Banerjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is intensifying with each passing day. On Monday, just weeks before 2021 assembly elections, PM Narendra Modi made a scathing remark on Banerjee's governance by saying that Bengal has opted for 'poriborton (change)' in vernacular accent at a public meeting in Hooghly district. In his second visit to Bengal this month, PM Modi also scornfully attacked Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee and Trinamool Congress (TMC) by accusing them of corruption and being a hurdle in development of the state. He accused them of putting the government's welfare scheme on hold.

"Over the years, when other parts of the nation developed, this region was confined to itself. Bengal now demands 'poriborton (change)' and BJP will work for 'aashol poriborton (real change)'. Development will be hindered in presence of syndicates and tolabaaz (extortion). Aaar noy anyay, amraa aashol poribortonchai (We don't want injustice... we want real change)," said the Prime Minister in the campaign. He added that the ones ruling the state for a long time are the biggest obstacle in its development. "Those who preach of 'maa maati manush' (which translates as 'mother, land and people' and refers to the Trinamool's emotion-laden war cry) are preventing the growth of the state."

He allegedly targeted TMC for not spending adequate funds to provide clean drinking water to people. Centre sanctioned Rs 1700 crores but only Rs 609 crores were used. According to him they hold on to the remaining amount of money. "They are inconsiderate about who wants water. Are they not Bengal's daughters?", PM raised this question taking dig at TMC's new election slogan "Bangla Nijer Meyekei Chaye '', which translates as "Bengal wants its own daughter".

The PM also attacked TMC by touching the issue of benefit payments to farmers- a rift point between centre and state. The Trinamool claims that the centre is not disseminating funds under PM Kisan even after it has sent the list of beneficiaries. While the PM claims they haven't received any list and state is veiling this information. "Centre directly sends money to accounts but Trinamool tolabaaz (extortionists) takes the money for state ventures which is portraying the centre in deceptive light," he said. The PM gained the trust of voters by promising industrial development in Hooghly if the BJP government was formed. "Jute Mill industry, the pride of the area will see tremendous growth after the formation of our government," he said. Bengal is emerging as a challenging conquest for BJP as they haven't ruled the state before.