Campaigning for the BJP in the state, where he addressed four rallies, Modi alleged: “An MLA of TMC gave a statement yesterday (Saturday) that they will throw Hindus in Bhagirathi (river). Hindus have become second-class citizens in Bengal. TMC does not let anyone take Ram’s name. It doesn’t allow Ram Navami processions in Bengal.” The Prime Minister also accused the TMC of “turning Bengal into a den of corruption” and said that strong actions would be taken against the culprits.

“The TMC has turned Bengal into a den of corruption… People have come up with the slogan ‘chor dhoro jail bharo’ (arrest the thieves, put them in jail) … The recent CAG report said that the West Bengal government could not provide utilisation certificates for Rs 230,000 crore. Where did this money go, and into whose pockets? But they will have to give an account to every penny. Not a single person who indulged in corruption will be spared,” Modi said at a BJP rally in Barrackpore.

At another BJP rally in Chinsurah in Howrah district, Modi alleged that INDIA bloc parties have made “corruption their common character”. “While many INDI Alliance parties indulge in corruption secretly, TMC does it openly. It has made corruption a full-time business. They call people of India as ‘bohiragoto’ (outsiders), but illegal immigrants from other countries are given a stay in Bengal,” the PM alleged.

He also listed out five guarantees for the people of Bengal: “no reservation on the basis of religion, reservation for SC/STs and OBCs to continue, nobody shall be prevented from celebrating the festivities of Ram Navami, nobody can overrule the verdict of Supreme Court on Ram Temple and nobody can overrule the law on Citizenship Amendment Act”.