PM Modi In West Bengal: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday that West Bengal's ruling party, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), had disappointed the state's people. Aiming at the TMC, the Prime Minister stated that despite the fact that the people of Bengal had consistently voted for CM Mamata Banerjee's party, the party had failed to provide development to the state.
"The way TMC is working here, they have disappointed the people of West Bengal. People have continuously voted for TMC but this party has become another name for atrocities and betrayal. For TMC, the priority is not the development of Bengal, but corruption, nepotism, and betrayal, corruption. TMC wants to keep the people of Bengal poor so that its politics continues, its game continues," PM Modi said while addressing a public rally in Nadia district's Krishnanagar.
"AIIMS was inaugurated by me via video conferencing in Kalyani of Nadia district a few days ago, but the West Bengal government has a problem with the construction of Kalyani AIIMS, they are asking why was permission not taken," PM Modi launched an attack at Mamata's ruling party.
"In West Bengal, TMC's goons and land mafias have been given open permission for hooliganism but the TMC govt is creating hurdles in environment-related permissions," the PM added further.
PM Modi also said, "Using the slogan of 'Maa, Maati, Manush', the TMC govt used the women of Bengal as a vote-bank. Today, Maa, Maati as well as Maanush, all are displeased by the TMC mode of governance."
Commenting on recent developments from the violence-hit region of Sandeshkhali, the PM said, "Women of Sandeshkhali kept asking for justice, yet the govt did not hear them. In Bengal, the police do not decide when a criminal must be arrested, it's the criminal who decides everything for himself. The state govt did not want the accused in the Sandeshkhali incident to be arrested".
'Bengal Wasn't Taken Forward In Right Direction': PM Modi Launches Multiple Projects In Krishnanagar
Earlier in the day, PM Modi said his government had taken another step to make West Bengal a "visit rajya". Addressing a gathering at the launch event of several developmental projects in Krishnanagar, PM Modi said that in terms of infrastructure, the railways have been a key part of the state's proud history but after Independence, Bengal, which historically had an advantage, "wasn't taken in the right direction".
"It is the reason why West Bengal kept lagging. We, however, have tried to bridge that gap in the last 10 years by focusing on the rail infrastructure here," the Prime Minister said.
The PM further said: "Yesterday, I was in Arambagh where I inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of several development projects worth nearly Rs 7,000 crore. And today, I have inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of several development projects worth Rs 15,000 crore".
PM Modi unveiled development projects worth Rs 15,000 crore in West Bengal's Nadia Dristct, during his two-day visit, on Saturday.
Soon after his address at the launch event of several projects, PM Modi held a roadshow in the region.
PM Modi arrived in the state on Friday and, around 10:30 am, travelled to Krishnanagar in Nadia district to unveil the projects. Stringent security measures were in place for the prime minister's visit to the district.
During the visit, the PM laid the foundation stone for Damodar Valley Corporation's Raghunathpur Thermal Power Station Phase II (2×660 MW) in Purulia district. He inaugurated the flue gas desulfurisation (FGD) system at Mejia Thermal Power Station, developed at Rs 650 crore.
Additionally, PM Modi inaugurated the four-laning of the 100-km-long Farakka-Raiganj section of NH-12, constructed at Rs 1,986 crore. Four rail projects worth more than Rs 940 crore were also dedicated to the nation. These included the doubling of the Damodar-Mohishila line, the third line between Rampurhat and Murarai, the doubling of the Bazarsau-Azimganj rail line, and a new line connecting Azimganj and Murshidabad.
On Friday, the PM had unveiled development projects worth more than Rs 7,200 crore in Arambagh in Hooghly district.
In the 2019 elections, the Krishnanagar Lok Sabha seat was won by TMC's Mohua Moitra. Moitra, a fierce critic of the BJP-led government, was expelled from the Lok Sabha in December following allegations of accepting gifts and illegal gratification.
Nadia district, where Krishnanagar is located, holds significance due to its substantial Matua population.
Following his engagements in West Bengal, the PM will conclude his visit to the state and travel to Bihar in the afternoon.