PM Modi promises Sonar Bangla
Assures poll-bound state of development, accuses Bengal CM of ‘breaking trust’
KOLKATA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday addressed thousands of supporters in Kolkata’s iconic Brigade Parade Ground, attacking the ruling Trinamool Congress, promising to transform the state to “Sonar Bangla (Golden Bengal)” if voted to power, and launching the BJP’S first big rally since the schedule for the assembly announced.
“Bengal trusted Didi for pariborton (transformation). She broke the trust,” he said at the Kolkata rally, adding: “The dream of Sonar Bangla will be fulfilled. Today, I have come here today to assure you of Bengal’s development, to increase investment here, to protect Bengal’s culture and to bring change.”
In another show of strength, actor Mithun Chakraborty ended weeks of speculation and joined the BJP at Sunday’s rally, even sharing the stage with the Prime Minister.
But as PM Modi was addressing a massive crowd, chief minister Mamata Banerjee led a
election
was padayatra in Siliguri to protest against the steep hike in fuel prices in the recent weeks.
Leading thousands on foot, she reacted to the BJP’S line of criticism, saying that the PM had made many “empty” promises over the years, and people no longer trust him.
“He [Modi] says there is no poriborton in Bengal, poriborton in Delhi. The Prime Minister is lying every day. Before election Ujwala, after election there’s jumla.”
Modi also hit back over criticism that he favoured a handful of industrialists.
“You have betrayed and insulted the people of Bengal who trusted that you will be the harbinger of change after the end of the Left rule. You smashed to smithereens (chaknachoor) their hopes and dreams,” he said.
The Prime Minister alleged Banerjee had promoted nepotism, while neglecting those who fondly called her “Didi”.
“Bengal chose you in role of Didi but you preferred being ‘bua’ to your ‘bhatija’,” he said. The BJP has accused Banerjee of trying to further the political career of her nephew and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee.
Instead, “All 130 crore people of India are my friends, I work for them. I gave 90 lakh gas connections to my friends of Bengal. I have special affinity with