Prime Minister Narendra Modi has slammed Mamata Banerjee-led TMC once again, stating that the party was fighting for its existence in West Bengal. Expressing confidence that the BJP will make significant gains in the state, the Prime Minister said the elections were “one-sided” in the state.
Modi on Tuesday criticised West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s response to the Calcutta High Court order invalidating all OBC certificates issued by the state government since 2010, and wondered whether goons would be sent after judges who deliver unfavourable orders.
“The TMC has betrayed the trust of the OBCs. The Calcutta High Court has exposed this. The Calcutta High Court said that it was unconstitutional to give OBC certificates to 77 Muslim communities. The TMC (government) has snatched the rights of lakhs of OBC youths, which were guaranteed by the Constitution but given to ‘vote jihadis’ overnight. It has belittled the efforts of Babasaheb Ambedkar,” Modi said at an election meeting in Ashoknagar in North 24 Parganas district.
“In Bengal elections, TMCis fighting for existence. You must have seen it in the last Assembly elections, we had three seats. The people of Bengal took us from three to 80. We got a lot of support in the Lok Sabha in the last elections. This time, the best-performing state in India is going to be West Bengal. BJP is getting the most success in West Bengal,” he added.
In the 2019 elections, the BJP made significant gains in the state, winning 18 seats while the ruling TMC’s run ended with 22 seats. He took a dig at TMC, saying the party was panicked seeing the public support for the BJP in West Bengal. “There are constant murders and attacks. The BJP workers are being locked in jails before the elections. Despite all these atrocities, the public is coming out in large numbers to vote,” PM Modi added.
In Odisha, the Prime Minister opened up about his relationship with BJD supremo and chief minister Naveen Patnaik, stating that he was willing to sacrifice his friendship for the welfare of Odisha. Explaining his decision to not align with BJD, despite the warm relations shared by both parties, Modi said he had no enmity with anyone.
“We have good relations with the leaders of all the political parties of India. In a democracy, we do not have enmity. Now the question is whether I should maintain my relations or worry about the fate of Odisha. I chose to devote myself to the bright future of Odisha and if I have to sacrifice my relations for that, I will do that. After the elections, I will convince everyone that I have no enmity with anyone,” he added.