KOLKATA: Sharpening his attack on the West Bengal Chief Minister, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday hit out at Mamata Banerjee for her ‘outsider’ remark, aimed at BJP’s national heavyweights visiting the state. Modi said no one is an outsider in Bengal.
He added that if BJP wins West Bengal, the next CM will be a son of the soil. The potential CM candidate for BJP has been a matter of speculation. Modi, however, did not elaborate after saying that the person would be from Bengal.
Taking a jibe at the CM’s venture of offering government schemes and benefits by setting up camps under the banner of Duare Sarkar (government at your doorstep) across the state ahead of Assembly elections, Modi said the people of Bengal will show her the exit door.
“Who are you referring to as outsiders? This is the land of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, Rabindra Nath Tagore and Shyama Prasad Mukherjee. This is India. We all are children of this land. No one is an outsider here,” said Modi at a rally in East Midnapore’s Contai. “In the last 10 years, you forgot the people of the state. Before elections, you launch Duare Sarkar. The people have decided to show you the door on May 2.’’
In an attempt to woo women voters, Modi accused Mamata of keeping this section away from Central schemes. “Women and their daughters are living in houses ravaged by Cyclone Amphan. Didi hasn’t been able to answer those who were first hit by the cyclone and then extortion of the TMC. The Centre’s relief sent to Bengal got stuck. Bengal wants to know who looted the relief. I urge the daughters of Bengal to give Didi a befitting reply.”
Referring to Mamata’s leg injury, Modi accused her of insulting the people of Nandigram, from where the CM is contesting. “Nandigram gave you so much and you are making false allegations against them? People of Nandigram will give you a befitting reply.”
Mamata suffered injuries on her left foot after being slammed by the door of her vehicle while greeting the crowd standing on the footboard. Shortly after that, she said there was a conspiracy to hurt her.