Kolkata: The war of words between Trinamool Congress and BJP continues.
With the West Bengal Assembly elections due in April-May next year, the political slugfest between the ruling party and main opposition party intensified on Friday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi directly attacked Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Modi, during his interactive session with farmers across the country, claimed that Mamata’s ideology has “destroyed” West Bengal.
Mamata countered the charge, saying that the Prime Minister was presenting distorted facts and speaking half truths.
“They (Central government) are yet to release even a portion of the Rs 85,000 crore outstanding dues that includes unpaid GST dues of Rs 8,000 crore,” claimed Mamata.
The TMC supremo also alleged that the Prime Minister is not proactively addressing the problems of farmers.
“While he publicly claimed his intention to help farmers of West Bengal through his PM Kisan Yojana and alleges non-cooperation of the state government, the fact is that he is trying to mislead the people with half truths and distorted facts. Instead of addressing the problem actively, he is just showing apparent concern through televised videos,” stated Mamata.
The Trinamool Congress has shown solidarity to the protesting farmers at Singhu border. The CM even sent a delegation of five TMC MPs to the protest venue and assured them of all help.
Taking a potshot at Modi on her ideology, Mamata said, “Questions on my ideology and commitment to the people of Bengal are being raised… let me remind you that my ideology is consistent with the vision of founding fathers of this country. I have wholeheartedly served the people of West Bengal with the right intent, efforts, and with everything I have. For me, the people of the state are my family.”
Modi, in his nationwide address, wondered why there were agitations in Bengal against the farm laws and yet no protests were seen against the TMC government’s decision to not implement the PM-KISAN scheme, under which Rs 6,000 is provided to small and marginal farmers directly in their bank accounts every year.
“More than Rs 18,000 crore has been directly deposited in the accounts of farmers; no middlemen, no commissions. But the 70 lakh farmers of West Bengal have been deprived of the benefits of the Centre’s schemes. Bengal is the only state which is not allowing benefits of the schemes to reach the farmers,” claimed the Prime Minister.
Modi also slammed other opposition parties in the state for not raising their voice against TMC’s objection to implement KISAN scheme.
