CAA rumours are false, says Modi

Kolkata: Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on West Bengal's ruling Trinamul Congress (TMC) and its I.N.D.I.A. partners, Congress and the Left, accusing them of spreading lies and rumours about the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) ahead of the Lok Sabha Election. Speaking from Cooch Behar in North Bengal, where a significant population of Hindu migrants resides, Modi criticised Mamata Banerjee's reaffirmed opposition to the CAA and her refusal to implement it in the state.

Addressing a large BJP rally at Ras Mela Ground in support of party candidates Nishith Pramanik and Manoj Tigga, Modi alleged, "TMC, Left, and Congress within the I.N.D.I.A. bloc have been playing politics of lies and rumours. They have neglected communities like Rajbanshis, Namshudras, and Matuas."

Modi assured the crowd, "It is 'Modi ki Guarantee' to grant citizenship to every family that believes in Maa Bharti. Despite the scare tactics of TMC and Left, you have witnessed my work for 10 years. You can rely on 'Modi ki Guarantee'."

Hours earlier, Mamata Banerjee, at a TMC rally in Jalpaiguri, countered Modi's stance, stating, "CAA is the head while NRC is the tail. Now, they are saying that a priest can grant citizenship. How can this be possible under the law? No CAA-NRC will happen here."

Modi also took a dig at the I.N.D.I.A. partners' cooperation in New Delhi despite their rift in seat-sharing for LS polls in the state, stating, "Politics of TMC, Left, and Congress thrive on falsehoods. The I.N.D.I.A. bloc is a glaring example of lies."

He highlighted their discrepancies, saying, "While they fight here, they dine together in Delhi. They want to protect the corrupt, but I pledge to punish them and ensure justice for the poor. This election is an opportunity to send a strong message to TMC."

In response, Mamata Banerjee accused the Centre of voter intimidation, urging the Election Commission to address the harassment of voters by BJP workers and security officials. She stressed on the need for a democratic level-playing field.