Modi accuses the TMC government of prioritising appeasement politics over ensuring safety of women
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday launched an all-out attack on the Trinamool Congress government in Bengal and warned that the “storm of Sandeshkhali would reach every corner of Bengal and would sweep away the Trinamool which was shielding criminals who perpetrated atrocities on the women of Sandeshkhali”. ‘Nari Shakti’ (woman power) would play a pivotal role in decimating the State’s ruling party in the ensuing Lok Sabha polls, he said. He also met some victims of the atrocities.
Speaking at a rally in Barasat, the headquarters of North 24-Parganas district where Sandeshkhali is located, and which has seen massive protests by women protesting land grab, atrocities and sexual attacks by Trinamool Congress leaders led by Sheikh Shahjahan, the Prime Minister said that the Trinamool Congress was shielding criminals. Modi added that despite legal intervention, the State authorities resisted the arrest of those responsible for the Sandeshkhali incidents.
Addressing the rally, 82 km from Sandeshkhali, Modi said whatever happened with women in Sandeshkhali “is a matter of shame”.
Modi accused the Trinamool Congress Government of prioritising appeasement politics over ensuring the safety of women in the State.
“TMC leaders are committing atrocities against sisters and daughters of poor, Dalit and tribal families at various places. The women of Bengal and the country are incensed. This storm of Sandeshkhali will reach every part of West Bengal, and decimate the TMC across the State,” Modi said.
The PM highlighted the historical significance of West Bengal as a beacon of women’s empowerment, lamenting that under the Trinamool Congress rule, the State has witnessed “grave atrocities” against women.
“The land of Bengal has been a source of inspiration for women’s power. But on this very land, women have been subjected to atrocities under the TMC rule. Whatever has happened in Sandeshkhali will lower anybody’s head in shame. But, the TMC Government here does not care about the sorrows of women,” he said.
Alleging that the Trinamool Congress was shielding criminals, Modi said that despite legal intervention, the State authorities resisted the arrest of those responsible for the Sandeshkhali incidents.
“The TMC used all its power to protect the criminals. However, the State Government suffered a setback, first from the High Court and then from the Supreme Court,” he said.
Hitting out at the Trinamool Congress for acting at the behest of touts and playing appeasement politics, Modi said, “The TMC Government, working under the pressure of touts, can never provide security to sisters and daughters. On the other hand, there is the BJP-led Central Government, which has made provisions for even death penalty in case of serious crimes like rape.”
The Prime Minister also slammed the Mamata Banerjee-led party for its failure to implement Central initiatives such as a women’s helpline, designed to aid them in distress.
“We had created this helpline so that our sisters can easily complain in times of crisis. However, the TMC Government is not allowing this system to be implemented here. Such an anti-women Government can never do any good for women,” he said.
He described the Trinamool Congress as a hindrance to Bengal’s development and urged the electorate to reject the opposition bloc I.N.D.I.A. and vote in favour of the BJP.
“Bengal is faced with an eclipse called TMC. Therefore, all of you, the sisters and mothers, have to defeat the opposition alliance and make the lotus bloom in every corner of the country,” the Prime Minister said.
Modi also asserted that 140 crore Indians are “my family”, as he mounted a counter-offensive over the “no family” jibe at him by leaders of the Opposition alliance.
“Sensing the return of the NDA after the Lok Sabha polls, all the leaders of I.N.D.I. alliance are nervous. They have started hurling abuses at me now. These corrupt leaders of the block are asking about my family, claiming that Modi does not have his own family, this is because I speak against dynasty politics and nepotism,” he said.
The PM’s comments comes in the backdrop of a remark by RJD supremo Lalu Prasad during a recent grand alliance rally in Patna, where he questioned Modi’s family background and criticised him for not adhering to traditional Hindu customs.
“The entire country is my family, 140 crore Indians are my family. Every ounce of Modi’s body and every moment of his life is dedicated to this family. When I face any problem, these mothers, sisters and daughters stand as a shield,” he asserted.
He also said that the BJP-led Central Government has been working sincerely for the progress of West Bengal and the country.
“Today, Kolkata Metro is also witness to the rapid pace of the BJP’s development work. In the 40 years before 2014, only 28 km of Kolkata Metro route was built, whereas in the last 10 years of the BJP Government, it has been expanded by another 31 km,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for various connectivity projects in Kolkata with a total value of Rs. 15,400 crore.
He inaugurated the Howrah Maidan-Esplanade section of Kolkata Metro’s East-West corridor, marking India’s first foray into underwater metro services.
He also inaugurated other metro stations, such as the Kavi Subhash-Hemanta Mukhopadhyay Metro section and the Taratala-Majerhat Metro section, which is a part of the Joka-Esplanade line in Kolkata.