PM asks crime syndicates to surrender
Kolkata: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday warned the Trinamul Congress “syndicates” of "elimination" in a “permanent surgery” if the BJP forms a government in West Bengal after the Assembly elections. He also gave the ruling TMC "goons" a “last chance” to surrender to the police before April 29, the date of the second and last phase of the polls in the state.
Modi issued the warnings while campaigning for BJP candidates in four western districts – Bankura, Purulia, Jhargram and West Midnapore, known as Jangal Mahal – to woo the local tribal population after they backed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's Trinamul Congress in the last Lok Sabha polls.
Addressing the rally, Modi said: “Bengal has several tribal and backward communities, but no home has been built for them because a nirmam sarkar of TMC here is anti-tribal and an enemy of tribals. I'm aware of the pain of the farmers here. As long as the TMC syndicate rules the markets, farmers will face exploitation. No industry will flourish here if the loot by the syndicate continues. You vote for Lotus (the BJP symbol), and the BJP will perform a permanent surgery on this syndicate.”
Modi added: “I'm giving a last chance to all the goons, syndicates and corrupt leaders of the TMC. Surrender at your respective police stations before April 29 or even April 23 because none will be spared after May 4. The sand, stone and coal mafia of Bishnupur should know that no illegal business will not be tolerated.”
In a bid to project the saffron party as a credible alternative to the ruling TMC, Modi claimed that Santhali language and culture have been neglected by the Mamata government for its appeasement politics towards infiltrators who have caused a "demographic change" in the belt.
Sharpening his salvo on the present dispensation, Modi alleged: “The TMC has done a PhD in looting the people. But I assure you that the BJP government will take everyone along and ensure development for all but will hold the oppressors and looters fully accountable. From my own experience, I can see no chance of the TMC coming to power this time.”
Modi further accused the TMC of not supporting the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill in Parliament to stop women's representation from growing in public life. “They fear that if more women MLAs are elected, they will raise their voice for their rights. That is why they opposed the reservation for women. When you go to cast your votes, you must punish the TMC for this crime," he argued.
He also tried to fan tribal sentiments by accusing the Trinamul Congress of insulting President Droupadi Murmu during her last visit to the state.
