"Bengal's Politics Biggest Reason For Its Condition": PM Modi At Rally

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today compared the Mamata Banerjee government to a second version of the Left Front government in Bengal and said there has been a "rebirth of communism" under her rule. The indicator, he said, was that politics has been criminalized and administration has been politicized in the state.

The state's politics is the "biggest reason for its condition," he said
"Bengal wants to ask Trinamool -- those who fired on the people of Nandigram -- why is she taking the same people in her party," the Prime Minister said at a political rally in Haldia -- considered the stronghold of Suvendu Adhikari, who joined the BJP in December.

Mr Adhikari, a former minister, has been an import from the Trinamool -- one of the many who joined the BJP in the last months. The exodus of leaders has been a point of contention between the two parties, though officially the Trinamool has maintained that only the corrupt and the sidelined leaders have gone to the BJP.

Accusing the state leaders of corruption, PM Modi said even in natural disasters like Cyclone Amphan, they are "looking for opportunities for corruption". "The Centre gave free ration immediately. But the state failed to give it to the people," he said.

The court finally had to take a stand on the corruption, he added.
"During Covid, lakhs of farmers here did not get any money, Lakhs of farmers should have benefitted from the Kisan Samman project, but did not. The state refused to join the programme," PM Modi said.

This is PM Modi's second official visit to Bengal within two weeks. His first visit -- held in January to mark the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, one of the state's icons -- triggered a huge flashpoint with the state's Trinamool Congress government after the "Jai Shri Ram" slogan controversy.

Chief Minister Mamata Bannerjee -- who had been extremely upset over the sloganeering and refused to continue with her speech – has sent a negative RSVP for this programme to the Prime Minister's Office.