Kolkata:
Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister of Bengal, unfurled new vitriolic language against Narendra Modi today, stating, "If he becomes PM, the country will be set on fire."
Since Sunday, Ms Banerjee and her Trinamool Congress have hurled coarse language at the BJP's prime ministerial candidate, using terms like "the butcher of Gujarat" to indict him for the communal riots in his home state of Gujarat in 2002. A Supreme Court inquiry found no evidence of his complicity in the violence, which left over 1,000 people dead, most of them Muslims. A Gujarat court has recently upheld that report.
"Who are these people who are able to cause riots in the name of Hindus, Muslims, Bengalis, non-Bengalis?" Ms Banerjee said at an election rally in North Kolkata today. "I am saddened, but people don't dare to say anything. They have bought everyone," she said, referring to Mr Modi's party, the BJP, which is expected to win the most seats in the election.
Mr Modi has outraged Ms Banerjee's party by stating at a rally in Bengal that she has caused more damage to Bengal in 35 months than her rivals, the Left, allegedly inflicted in 34 years of uninterrupted rule in the state. The Trinamool is particularly offended by Mr Modi's allegation that a painting by Ms Banerjee was bought for 1.86 crores by a controversial entrepreneur who is now in prison.
The Election Commission has sought a transcript of Mr Modi's comments to investigate whether he violated the model code of conduct.
The Trinamool says Mr Moodi must apologise for his defamatory remarks.
Mr Modi is expected to lead the BJP to its strongest-ever electoral performance.