Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a public rally in Bardhaman-Durgapur on Friday, criticised the Trinamool Congress (TMC) for allegedly treating Hindus as second-class citizens in West Bengal. He accused the party of focusing on appeasement rather than development.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) nominated Dilip Ghosh to contest against TMC’s candidate Kirti Azad, a former cricketer turned politician.
In his speech, Modi expressed concern about TMC’s methods, claiming the party divides society for votes. He mentioned a TMC MLA who allegedly threatened to drown Hindus in the Bhagirathi River, questioning the situation of Hindus in Bengal.
Modi also accused TMC of protecting Shahjahan Sheikh in the Sandeshkhali case for appeasement purposes. He highlighted the injustice faced by Dalit women in Sandeshkhali and TMC’s inaction despite national calls for justice.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had previously accused the Modi government of attempting to marginalize SCs, STs, and OBCs and interfering with the autonomy of the Election Commission.
Meanwhile, the Congress party claimed that West Bengal’s industrial economy is threatened by the Modi government’s “crony capitalist policies.”
On Friday, Modi planned to address public meetings in Krishnanagar, Purba Bardhaman, and Bolpur Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal.
