\'Expiry babu\': Mamata Banerjee lashes out at PM\'s \'speed breaker\' barb

Cooch Behar: Terming Narendra Modi as 'expiry babu', West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday lashed out at the Prime Minister over his claims that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government did not do anything for the poor.

"He is an expiry babu. His government has expired. You (Modi) said in Siliguri that we did not do anything for the poor. What have you done in the last five years? I have never seen a Prime Minister telling these many lies. Do not speak lies everyday," Banerjee said at a public rally here.

Listing out the steps taken by her government for the poor, the TMC supremo said, "We have given free ration to the poor so that they can have two square meals a day. Free medical treatment is being given to those who are below the poverty line."

Accusing the TMC government of stalling central schemes meant for the upliftment of the poor, Prime Minister Modi had earlier today termed Banerjee as the 'speed breaker' in the state's development. He had also said that he was waiting for the "speed breaker" to leave the state to allow development to gather pace in West Bengal.

"There is a speed breaker in West Bengal whom you know by the name of 'Didi'. This 'Didi' (Mamata) is the speed-breaker in your development," the Prime Minister had said at a public rally in Siliguri.

"Didi is not at all concerned about the poor. If she wants to indulge in politics over the poor, then how can she fight to eliminate poverty? The same thing applies to Congress and the Communists. Didi has put a brake in the welfare of over 70 lakh farmers in West Bengal."

Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal will be held in all the seven phases from April 11 to May 19. Counting of votes will take place on May 23.

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