Prime Minister Narendra Modi today spelt out what must resonate with rest of India, more so in West Bengal, as India smells trouble brewing in country’s NorthEast.
Modi couldn’t do so in person today at Ranaghat in Nadia district, a city mere 256km from Bangladesh which presently echoes anti-India forces hellbent on causing trouble in India’s East.
Modi, who couldn’t attend his rally as his helicopter was turned away by dense fog, nevertheless expressed his views on his social media handle, making a pointed reference to mushrooming presence of infiltrators from across the border presently infesting West Bengal.
“TMC (the ruling party in West Bengal) is putting all its strength towards protecting infiltrators who, in turn, loot the poor of West Bengal, spread terror, chaos and commit atrocities against our Nari Shakti,” said Modi.
Very few in India have doubts about burgeoning infiltration in Bengal or that the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) purposely looks the other way, if not actively encourages it.
The battle-lines are drawn with SIR (Special Intensive Revision) being put in motion in Bengal, as it did in Bihar, where BJP-powered NDA won 202 out of 243 assembly seats.
“It is Modi’s assurance to the people of West Bengal that once a BJP government is made in the state, stricter action will be taken against infiltrators,” added Modi.
Modi, through his address, reached out to his “Matua brothers and sisters,” a significant Hindu religious and social group in Bengal, who fled persecution from East Pakistan/Bangladesh to India, forming a massive Scheduled Caste (SC) population in West Bengal.
According to reports, even though 30 million Matuas are in West Bengal, only 15 million are registered as voters. Subversion by denial of voting rights in upcoming state elections in West Bengal early next year thus remains an explosive threat. Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) stays a focal issue among Matuas.
“I assure every Matua and Namasudra family…they are not here at the mercy of TMC. They have the right to live in India with dignity thanks to the CAA,” said Modi.
Modi said a Maha Jungle Raj is prevailing in West Bengal because of the TMC which “is only bothered about cuts and commissions.”
“Development projects worth thousands of crores covering housing, healthcare, food security, education and more are not progressing due to TMC’s non-cooperative attitude,” pointed out Modi.
If TMC wants to oppose Modi, it can do so hundred times…But why is TMC stopping the development of West Bengal,” questioned Modi.
Modi further highlighted the measures his BJP party has taken in the state for Bengal’s upliftment.
“52 lakh houses have been sanctioned…over a crore families of the state have benefitted from Jal Jeevan Mission…over 13,000 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs have been built…over 750 PM-BJP Kendras which provide medicine at affordable rates,” stated Modi.
The historical perspective of the region was stressed by Modi in his address: “For all of us who believe in the greatness of Indian culture, Nadia has a very special place. This land is associated with Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (one of the architects of Bhakti Movement in the 15th-16th century). This land has a history of serving others,” said Modi.
Modi reached Kolkata early this morning and took a chopper for Nadia district where he was scheduled to launch highway projects in West Bengal, followed by a political rally. It couldn’t land though due to dense fog.
The projects include 66.7 km long four-laning of the Barajaguli-Krishnannagar section of National highway-34 in Nadia district. Another four-laning of the 17.6km long Barasat-Barajaguli section of NH-34 in North 24 Parganas is also planned.
The projects would be a vital connectivity link between Kolkata and Siliguri and reduce the travel time by nearly two hours.
