West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi accusing him of politicising 'Operation Sindoor'.
Banerjee said her party, the Trinamool Congress, was ready to go to polls as early as tomorrow, referring to Bengal BJP chief and Union minister Sukanta Majumdar’s ‘Operation Bengal’ remark about “throwing the TMC in the Bay of Bengal in next year’s assembly elections”.
"What PM Modi said today is not only shocking but unfortunate... He and his party leaders have suggested 'Operation Bengal' like Operation Sindoor at a time when the entire opposition is representing the country on the world stage (to support the Centre’s anti-terror stand)," Mamata Banerjee said while addressing reporters at the state secretariat.
The Bengal CM remarks came as Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari and Sukanta Majumdar gave a call for ‘Operation Bengal’ akin to Operation Sindoor during PM Modi's visit to the state.
"Coming to the state and talking about ‘Operation Bengal’ just like Operation Sindoor means... he (Modi) is comparing the dignity of Bengal's women with terrorists. I challenge them. If you have the guts, you can go for elections tomorrow. We are ready, Bengal is ready," Mamata said.
Mamata also attacked the BJP over its plans to distribute vermilion among women across the country.
Taking a jibe at PM Modi, the Bengal CM said, "Please remember every woman has respect, they accept sindoor only from her husband... The way you are talking... you are not the husband of everybody; why are you not giving sindoor to your Mrs first?"
Banerjee also questioned the Centre on why the terrorists behind the Pahalgam attack were not yet nabbed.
"Why couldn't you arrest the terrorists even after so many days? Did you catch those who wiped off the sindoor of our women? Could you eliminate them?” she said.
Earlier in the day, PM Modi launched an attack at the Bengal government, saying people don't want 'Nirmam' Sarkar.
Modi listed five major crises that are allegedly "plaguing" Bengal under the TMC rule, including “widespread violence and lawlessness, growing sense of insecurity among women, despair among the youth due to unemployment and lack of opportunities”.
Slamming the TMC over the multi-crore teacher recruitment scam, Modi alleged, “This is not just the destruction of the lives of a few thousand teachers, but the entire education system is deteriorating. Even now, the TMC refuses to admit its mistakes. Instead, they are blaming the courts and the judicial system.”