Team News Riveting
Kolkata, March 7
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched a scathing attack on Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and said he was committed to bringing about “asol parivartan” (real change) in the state.
Addressing a mammoth BJP rally at the Brigade Parade Grounds Bengal today to kick off his election campaign in Bengal that goes to the polls next month, Modi accused Mamata of nepotism by choosing to play the limited role of “bua” (aunt) to her “bhatija” (nephew) instead of becoming “Didi” (elder sister) to the people.
You have betrayed and insulted the people of Bengal who trusted that you will be the harbinger of change after the end of the Left rule. You smashed to smithereens (chaknachoor) their hopes and dreams,” the Prime Minister said. The BJP has been accusing Banerjee of trying to install her nephew and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek as her successor and the next chief minister.
“All 130 crore people of India are my friends, I work for them. I gave 90 lakh gas connections to my friends of Bengal. I have special affinity with tea, and the tea garden workers of Bengal are my friends for whom I have implemented a social security scheme,” he said in a clear reference to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Mamata’s allegation that he had few industrialist friends whom he was helping.
He also attacked Banerjee for triggering the insider- outsider debate. “When those believing in Marx and Lenin and a party like the TMC, an offshoot of the Congress, are parties of insiders, how the BJP, for whose foundation Syama Prasad Mookerjee was the source of inspiration, can be a party of outsiders,” he said.
The prime minister said he was committed to bringing about “asol parivartan” (real change) in Bengal where all sections of people progress but nobody is appeased, and infiltration is stopped.
