Mounting a scathing attack on the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government in West Bengal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Friday that people across the country were “sad” and “enraged” over the atrocities against the women of Sandeshkhali by local TMC leaders.
Accusing the TMC government of making “all sorts of attempts to protect” its accused leaders, Modi, addressing a public meeting at Arambagh in Hooghly district, also questioned the silence of the Opposition INDIA bloc over the Sandeshkhali incidents and asked people to give a befitting reply to the TMC with their votes — “Har chot ka jawab vote se dena hai” (for every wound, reply with your vote).
The Prime Minister targeted Banerjee and her government a day after the arrest of TMC strongman Shahjahan Sheikhaccused of sexual abuse and land-grabbing in Sandeshkhali — a small island in the Sunderban delta — along with his aides.
Sheikh had been on the run for 55 days after his supporters attacked Enforcement Directorate officers who had gone to search his house in Sandeshkhali on January 5 as part of their probe into the ration distribution case.
Modi said, “The entire country is watching the current situation in Bengal and the conduct of those who advocate for Maa, Mati and Manush (mother, soil and people). People across the country are sad and enraged to see what the TMC has done with the mothers and sisters of Sandeshkhali. The soul of (social reformer) Raja Ram Mohan Roywho worked for women’s empowerment, must have been pained to see such atrocities.”
“Atrocities of TMC leaders on Sandeshkhali women have crossed all limits. When women sought help from Mamata Banerjeeher government made all sorts of attempts to protect the (accused) TMC leaders. BJP leaders here fought day and night and even had to face (police) batons in their fight to protect the dignity of women. Under their pressure, the state government had no other option than to arrest the TMC leader. They should be ashamed of this. Will you forgive this TMC? Will you not take revenge for the atrocities? Har chot ka jawab vote se dena hai (for every wound inflicted, reply with your vote),” he said.
Questioning the silence of the INDIA bloc, including the Congress, Modi said, “INDI gathbandhan (alliance) leaders have been silent and mute on the Sandeshkhali issue. They are like Mahatma Gandhi’s three monkeys who see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil. They sit together and hold meetings in Patna, Bengaluru and Mumbai but are not ready to speak on this issue. Have the Left and Congress sought answers from the TMC? They have not. They only stand by those who believe in corruption, dynastic politics and appeasement politics.”
Accusing the TMC government of corruption and involvement in multiple scams, he said, “The TMC has created a new model of corruption in Bengal. It supports widespread corruption and violence. There is corruption in primary teachers recruitment, civic bodies recruitment, ration distribution system, implementation of the MGNREGA scheme etc. There is no area left where they have not indulged in corruption. Bundles of cash have been recovered from the houses of TMC leaders. Have you seen such things before? Even in the cinema?”.
“The TMC government even stops Central agencies from conducting investigations. TMC wants to loot money from Central schemes. TMC sees Modi as its No.1 enemy because he stops such acts. Should I allow them to loot people’s money? Am I doing the right thing or not? I give you my guarantee that the looters (of people’s money) will have to return the money. Modi will not spare them. Modi is not scared of their attacks. Modi’s guarantee is that they will have to return the money which they looted,” he said.
“The arrogance of the TMC will break soon. It is confident that it has the support of a particular group, but Muslim women too will now throw them out. They will start the countdown of TMC’s ouster from power,” he said.
On Saturday, Modi is due to address another public meeting in Krishnanagar in Nadia district and inaugurate development projects.
