In a two-pronged reaction to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kolkata and inauguration of new Metro lines, the Trinamul Congress today belittled BJP’s poll prospects next year as well as expressed dismay at the Railways’ neglecting Mamata Banerjee’s name during today’s programmes.
Coming down heavily on PM Modi’s attempt to boost his party’s prospects in Bengal during his rally speech, Trinamul Congress spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said Mamata Banerjee would return with more seats in the 2026 Assembly election.
“The more Modi comes to Bengal, the more the BJP will lose ground and ensure a larger Trinamul Congress’ victory in the state,” Mr Ghosh said.
He said the railway ministry did not have the courtesy to mention the name of Mamata Banerjee at today’s programmes in the city, even though she had sanctioned sections of its expansion and later provided land for the extension of Metro Railway in the city.
Obliquely referring to the SIR (Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls) exercise, Mr Ghosh said the Prime Minister had spoken about infiltration. “But it is the BSF that mans the borders, and the BSF comes under the home ministry, which in turn is under Minister Amit Shah. So it amounts to criticising Mr Shah without taking his name.
“In fact, there is more infiltration through the borders in Tripura, even though it is a ‘double engine’ state,” he said. He wondered why “Mr Modi did not give answers to the questions raised by Trinamul Congress and instead dramatised his speech just to divert the attention of the people.”
In her reaction to the speech, Dr Shashi Panja, minister for women and child development and social welfare, said “Mr Modi’s statement that Durga Puja will be held soon in Bengal and everyone was very excited about it contradicts the words of his own party leaders, who had said a court order is required for permission to organise Durga Puja.”
She added that “Durga Puja is held peacefully in Bengal every year because of Mamata Banerjee’s efforts. She is working day and night to ensure peace, development and prosperity in Bengal.”
Dr Panja said it was most unfortunate when Bengali migrant workers were being attacked and humiliated in the BJP-ruled states, Mr Modi did not utter a single word and praised Bengali language. “He should have told this to Amit Malviya, who had recently said that there was no language called Bengali,” she said.
Trinamul Congress MP Mohua Moitra wondered whether Mr Modi felt any shame to sing the National Anthem and National Song, as both of them were written in Bengali. He should remember that his government had not cleared dues worth Rs 1.83 lakh crore and should have mentioned this in his speech. She said Mr Modi speaks about a corruption-free India but he often forgets that 28 ministers in Delhi have criminal cases against them. He should dissolve Parliament, as the voter list on the basis of which Lok Sabha election was held in 2024 was faulty.