"TMC Puts Brakes On Modi's Schemes": PM Hits Out At Kharge's Kashmir Remarks In West Bengal, Remembers Syama Prasad Mookerjee

Prime Minister Narendra Modi attacked the West Bengal ruling government on Sunday (7 April) while campaigning in Jalpaiguri for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, scheduled for 19 April in the constituency.

He said that the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) puts brakes on his government's welfare schemes, citing that Rs 30,000 crore was sent by the Centre for building pucca houses of the poor.

"How can I let TMC loot the money meant for the public", the PM said alleging that the TMC demands money from the Centre in their accounts, rather than directly sending it to the beneficiaries.

Modi said that due to TMC, 'Nal se jal' (tapwater) scheme is not effective in Bengal. Similarly, Ayushman Bharat is not implemented in the state, he said adding that even PM Kisan Nidhi is facing obstacles.

The PM highlighted the "worst situation of Bengal tea gardens" and said that even the lowest of the TMC leader lives in big bungalows but tea gardeners do not even have basic facilities.

He alleged that many tea gardens ran out of operation due to this and asked the people to "teach a lesson to the TMC", so much that their election deposit gets forfeited.

Modi pointed out that TMC attacks or arranges attacks on central investigative agencies. He brought up the issues of Sandeshkhali sexual assault and land grabs, ration and teachers' recruitment scam.

Promising punishment for offenders, the PM said that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached Rs 3,000 crore in the state and he is seeking advice to return this money to poor.

Modi alleged that TMC, Left and Congress are together and have formed INDI Alliance to save each other's corruption. He pledged a more aggressive action against corruption after 4 June.

Remembering Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee, the PM said that many generations of BJP had this slogan of "jahan hue balidan Mukherjee, wo Kashmir hamara hai."

He claimed that if Mookerjee was not there, Congress would have surrendered before separatists. He said that since the BJP has broken the wall of Article 370, the Congress is now in "pain, shouting, crying".

Modi brought Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's remarks that what is the relevancy of Kashmir in other states. He responded, "For Congress, Kashmir is nothing but is crown for 140 crore Indians."

The PM asserted that every state's braves are martyred for Kashmir. He added that Mookerjee was Bengali but for Kashmir, he put his life at risk in Kashmir. "For Kashmir, he gave up his life," Modi added.

He claimed that these remarks reveals Congress' separatist ideology. He added, "Modi gives guarantee, they give gaali (abuse)". He urged the people to not be afraid in casting votes for lotus.