Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted on Sunday that the state of "freedom of speech" in West Bengal is under threat under the current administration led by the Trinamool Congress.
In his address at a rally in the Arambagh Lok Sabha constituency in Hooghly district, Prime Minister Modi highlighted the suppression of opposition voices and the precarious state of freedom of expression for the common populace in the state. He said people were threatened for sharing a cartoon and made a direct reference to the 2011 arrest of then Jadavpur University professor Dr Ambikesh Mahapatra for circulating a cartoon of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
He also attacked the apparent cultural monopoly of Trinamool Congress leaders in West Bengal, while saying that the region is about the religious heritage of Maa Durga and Maa Kali. He decried the censorship imposed on people's religious beliefs, citing the taboo around mentioning Lord Ram's name.
Expressing dismay over the declining status of women and education in the birthplace of eminent figures like Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Prime Minister Modi accused the ruling party of neglecting the contributions of stalwarts like Shyama Prasad Mukherjee in favor of appeasement politics aimed at retaining minority support.
He also accused the Trinamool Congress of allegedly demeaning people belonging to the scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes.
The prime minister further stated that the Trinamool Congress would not succeed in hindering the enactment of the Citizenship Amendment Act, which it opposed.
The Arambagh rally was the third by the prime minister for the day. He had already addressed two earlier in Barrackpore and Hooghly. He is to attend a fourth one later in Howrah.
TMC plundering West Bengal's wealth, Modi accuses TMC in Howrah
Prime Minister Narendra Modi came down heavily on Congress, Left, and Trinamool Congress on Sunday, accusing them of playing with West Bengal for years, hence it deteriorated.
He accused the opposition parties of siphoning off all the resources of the state for their benefit and stated that the 2024 elections are going to be very crucial for the progress of Bengal.
"Trinamool Congress is essentially a blend of Congress's historical politics and the Left's oppressive tactics. Once a thriving industrial hub, Howrah in West Bengal has suffered due to the policies of both the Left and Trinamool, driving out industrialists," remarked Prime Minister Modi during a campaign rally in the Howrah Lok Sabha constituency, supporting BJP candidate Rathin Chakraborty.
Modi highlighted Trinamool leaders' involvement in orchestrating violence and alleged land grabs by ruling party-backed thugs across the state.
"This rampant corruption is directly fueled by the state government's support. Corruption is the common thread among all members of the opposition INDI Alliance. Trinamool Congress openly nurtures corruption," asserted the Prime Minister.
He also accused Trinamool Congress of complicity in the state's lottery scam.
"It's time for the people of West Bengal to hold Trinamool Congress accountable. I am confident you will punish them and eradicate them entirely. Trinamool Congress continues to defend those accused in Sandeshkhali and indulges in appeasement politics with the Congress," Modi said.
The Prime Minister stressed his government's commitment to inclusive governance, which he said the governments in the past used to negate as soon as the elections were over.
"In the past, parties and leaders would forget the common people once getting elected, even refuse to recognize voters. I have significantly altered this approach," he remarked.
"Today, the BJP government is extending assistance to every corner of the country. That's why millions in Bengal receive free rations, ensuring no impoverished mother sees her children go hungry," Modi added.
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