Days after PM Modi accused Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress rule in Bengal saying of violent extortion and CBI probe involving her nephew Abhishek Banerjee’s wife, the Bengal chief minister on Wednesday responded Modi in the same style. Launching a blistering attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Mamata Banerjee reiterated the issue of 'outsider, insider'. She even used terms like "Dangabaaz (rioter)" and "Daitya (demon)”, for the PM.
Calling Modi the biggest dangabaaz in the country, Banerjee said, "Every time you (BJP) say that Trinamool Congress is 'Tolabaaj' but I say you (BJP) are 'dangabaaz and dhandabaaz',", she added while addressing a rally in Hooghly, where PM Modi had held a public gathering on Monday. She further said that what happened to Trump, Modi will meet an even worse fate, adding that nothing can be achieved from violence.
"Bengal will rule Bengal. Gujarat will not rule Bengal. Modi will not rule Bengal. 'Gundas' (miscreants) will not rule Bengal," the Trinamool Congress chief attacking BJP went on to add a direct reference to PM Modi and Amit Shah's Gujarat background.
Declaring herself the winner in West Bengal Assembly elections, Mamata Banerjee says, "I will be the goalkeeper in the assembly polls and BJP will not be able to score a single goal.”
Banerjee’s comments also come in the light of nephew and Trinamool MP Abhishek Banerjee's wife Rujira was interrogated by CBI in a bribery case taken from the alleged coal mafia. Rujira Banerjee's sister was also questioned earlier.
"You can kill me, thrash me. But can you disrespect a woman? The bahu (daughter-in-law) of my house? And call her coal thief," the Chief Minister raged in anger.
"You are calling our mothers and daughters coal thieves? You are hardly spotless. We know everything but I won't say anything as it is beneath me."
Several celebrities, including actors like Sayoni Dutta and June Maliya and cricketer Manoj Tiwari, joined TMC at the rally and "Khela Hobey (Game On)" slogans were raised, the slogan was taken by TMC to challenge BJP this election.
"The country is being ruled by a doitya and a danab (Bengali for demons). They will try to break our spine. They will infiltrate. They will grab Bengal. What do you want? Mamata further railed at BJP.
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What did Modi say?
West Bengal will never progress if “tolabazi” (extortion) continues to persist in the state, Modi had said, adding that people of Bengal have made up their mind for “poriborton” (change)". "Development in Bengal is not possible as long as cut money culture, syndicate rule and "tolabazi" (extortion) persists," said Modi.
Modi also alleged that the financial benefits of schemes in West Bengal are not reaching the poor because of the Mamata government.
"Centre transfers money directly into bank accounts of farmers & poor. But monetary benefits of schemes of Bengal Govt does not reach the poor without the consent of all the 'tolabaaz' of TMC. This is why TMC leaders are becoming richer & normal families are becoming poorer," he had said.