NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government in West Bengal, accusing it of showing “hostility” towards the poor and backward classes. He alleged that leaders of the Mamata Banerjee-led government were demanding “cuts and commissions” from the poor in exchange for the implementation of central government schemes.“The ruthless government didn’t let the people of West Bengal get Ayushman cards… Many poor people are not able to get permanent houses because of the TMC government, because their leaders are demanding cut and commission from the poor,” the PM said while addressing a gather in West Bengal’s Alipurduar. Further upping the ante against the Mamata Banerjee government, the PM accused the TMC of having “enmity” towards the tribal and said that the TMC was “first party” to oppose the candidature of President Draupadi Murmu.“The TMC government’s enmity towards the tribals is no less… The TMC government is stalling the development of the poor tribal communities… TMC doesn’t care about the tribal community’s respect. When the NDA government made a tribal woman a Presidential candidate for the first time, TMC was the first party to oppose that,” he said.PM Modi lashed out at the TMC government, describing it as “plagued by violence, corruption and lawlessness.” Citing communal violence in Murshidabad and Malda, he said, “West Bengal is grappling with a series of crises… people don’t want ‘Nirmam Sarkar’ anymore.”
‘Operation Sindoor is not over yet’
Speaking about India’s ‘Operation Sindoor’ the Prime Minister said that the operation “is far from over”, and warned that India would continue to exact a heavy price on those sponsoring terrorism. He stated Pakistan had already been hit “three times inside its home”.“Ever since it came into existence, it has only nurtured terrorism… Terror and genocide are the biggest expertise of the Pakistan army. When a direct war is waged, their defeat is certain. This is the reason why the Pakistan army takes the help of terrorists… Pakistan should understand that ‘teen baar ghar mein ghuskar maara hai tumhe’. This is the declaration of 140 crore Indian from the land of the Bengal Tiger- Operation Sindoor is not over yet,” he said.PM Modi also invoked the cultural symbolism of ‘sindoor’, linking it to the traditional ‘Sindoor Khela’ ritual during Durga Puja. “Now that I am standing on the sacred land of ‘Sindoor Khela’, it is only right that we speak about a new resolve against terrorism ‘Operation Sindoor’,” he said.Referring to the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Modi said, “The terrorists dared to wipe off ‘sindoor’ from the foreheads of our sisters. But our brave soldiers made them realise the power of that sindoor.”He asserted India’s firm stance against terrorism: “Pakistan should understand that we have entered your house and killed you three times.” Accusing Pakistan of institutionalising terrorism, Modi said, “Terrorism and mass murder are the biggest expertise of the Pakistani army.” He also recalled atrocities committed during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
