Mamata running syndicate raj, throttling democracy: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched an all-out attack against the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal, charging it with “throttling democracy” and running a “syndicate raj”.
Addressing a ‘Kisan Kalyan’ rally here, the prime minister also reached out to farmers and said his government was working to double their incomes by 2022. The people of West Bengal will get freedom from the “misrule” of the Trinamool Congress within a few months, Modi told the gathering at the farmers' welfare rally in an apparent reference to the coming general elections. Modi said nothing can be achieved without approval of the “syndicate” in West Bengal. “The political syndicate rules in the land of ‘ Vande Mataram’ and ‘Jana- Gana-Mana’,” he said, adding that the syndicate pursued appeasement and vote bank politics.
The TMC government, he added, is operating syndicates to run chit funds, take away the benefits of the farmers and unleash atrocities on the poor.
Those who think they can be in power by unleashing violence should read the “writing on the wall”, the prime minister said.
“The people of Bengal had fought hard against the misrule of the Left Front. It took some time. Within a few months, the people of Bengal will get freedom from the misrule of the TMC. People are just waiting for an opportunity,” Modi said at the farmers’ rally.
“We all know the condition of West Bengal under the present regime. Those who spoke of Maa, Mati, Manush (the TMC slogan) have been completely exposed. They are running syndicates. Democracy is being throttled and brutalised in the state.” Puja rituals as well as the tradition and heritage of West Bengal are under threat, he said.
“If you want to start a new business or do any work you have to pay the syndicate. Investments have stopped coming to Bengal. The people are frustrated and fed up by this government,” he said.
Referring to the recent allegations of extortion from students over admissions in colleges, Modi said the TMC has ruined the state further, after the end of the 34-year Left regime.
Discussing the panchayat polls and the violence in the state, the prime minister said he salutes the people for coming out in support of the BJP in huge numbers “despite the reign of terror let loose by the TMC”.