Kolkata: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing a rally in Barrackpur, accused the Trinamool Congress (TMC) of relegating Hindus to "second-class citizens" in West Bengal during its regime. PM Modi expressed confidence in the BJP's increasing mandate in Bengal, stating, "The enthusiastic faces of the people tell me that the BJP is going to receive an even higher mandate than it did in 2019. Bengal is saying, 'Phir Ek Baar, Modi Sarkar!'"
He criticized the TMC, alleging that it had turned bomb-making into a cottage industry in Bengal. PM Modi highlighted the challenges faced by the common man in practicing their faith in Bengal, citing instances where TMC threatened people for chanting the name of Lord Ram and hindered the celebration of Ram Navami. He also accused the Congress and Left of standing against the construction of the Ram Mandir. Regarding the INDI Alliance, PM Modi accused them of appeasement politics and engaging in 'Vote Jihad' against the BJP. He referenced a statement by a TMC leader who allegedly threatened to throw Hindus into the Bhagirathi River, questioning who supported such actions.
PM Modi emphasized that under the TMC regime, Hindus had become second-class citizens in Bengal. Earlier, TMC MLA Humayun Kabir made controversial remarks during an election rally in Murshidabad, stating that Hindus would be drowned in the Bhagirathi River within two hours, or else he would leave politics. PM Modi blamed the Congress for neglecting the development of eastern Indian states during its decades-long governance. He highlighted the potential for economic growth in states like West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Odisha, asserting that the Congress did little to harness their capabilities.
He pledged to make East India the growth engine of Viksit Bharat, stating, "Today, we are creating a network of roadways, railways, and waterways in the eastern states of India... Dedicated freight corridors have amplified industrialization in this area. The upcoming years will be dedicated to furthering the development of West Bengal and the surrounding states." PM Modi also conducted a roadshow in Barrackpore, West Bengal, before his rally.
In the upcoming fourth phase of voting on May 13, eight Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal will go to the polls. These constituencies are Baharampur, Krishnanagar, Ranaghat, Bardhaman Purba, Burdwan-Durgapur, Asansol, Bolpur, and Birbhum. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the TMC won 34 seats in the state, while the BJP secured 2 seats. The CPI (M) won 2 seats, and the Congress bagged 4. However, in the 2019 polls, the BJP significantly improved its performance, winning 18 seats against the TMC's 22. The Congress's tally dropped to just 2 seats, while the Left failed to secure any.
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