Launching a scathing attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday alleged that her "appeasement and vote-bank politics" was the main reason behind infiltration in the state.
Modi further accused the Trinamool Congress (TMC) of creating a “new breed of Maoists” who were looting the public money.
“The main reason behind infiltration is the tactics of appeasement and vote-bank politics pursued by Didi and her government. Bengal has been suffering from appeasement politics for 10 years,” said Modi. He was addressing a rally in Purulia district.
Modi said that she questioned the Batla House encounter for the sake of appeasement politics.
“The people of Bengal know very well who you sided with during the Pulwama terror attack. Court has awarded death penalty to the accused in the Batla House encounter. But then Mamata didi raised questions on the encounter. She has done all this for appeasement politics,” said Modi.
He also said that the people of Bengal have a “very strong memory” and remember who accused the Army of trying to engineer a coup in the State.
The Prime Minister further alleged that the TMC Government was covertly patronising underground Maoist rebels.
“The TMC has created a new breed of Maoists in Bengal who usurp public money, the money which is meant for welfare of the people. The TMC government has covertly patronised Maoist violence for political gains,” said Modi.
Accusing the Chief Minister of neglecting the needs of Dalits, tribals and forest dwellers, Modi said that her “henchmen” even looted the subsidised rice provided by the Centre during the nationwide lockdown.
He further alleged that the TMC never bothered about the plight of Dalits and tribals who became the "worst victims of their corrupt practices of cut money or bribe to access Government schemes and extortion".
“The motto of the BJP Government at the Centre is the Direct Benefit Transfer. But TMC’s policy is ‘Transfer my commission',” he added. Even as the Prime Minister said that he “respects” Mamata, he accused her of committing countless atrocities in Bengal.
“Didi is getting angry with me. Didi, you are also a daughter of India. I have respect for you. But you have committed a lot of atrocities in Bengal. But now the people will rise against you and ensure your defeat,” said Modi.
Taking a dig at TMC’s “khela hobey” (game on) slogan, the Prime Minister said that in the Assembly elections, it will be “game over for Didi.”