Kamal Ghorui
KOLKATA: Chun-chun ke hisab liya jayega (One by one, everyone will be held accountable),” PM Modi said at BJP’s Brigade Parade Ground rally here on Saturday, calling for “change” at state secretariat Nabanna in upcoming polls. He touched on BJP’s key themes, “demographic change, lack of security for women and nirmam sarkar’s (cruel govt’s) violence and corruption”.Creators of ‘maha jungle raj’ in Bengal will pay, says PM ModiPM Modi’s speech laid out the template for the party’s poll campaign in a state it wants to add to its showcase of spectacular election victories since 2014. Saturday’s rally was also probably the last to be addressed by the BJP’s biggest vote-catcher before the EC’s likely announcement of the poll schedule next week. “The countdown has started for those who have brought maha jungle raj to Bengal. Those who flout the law and torture people will not be spared. We will make them pay for their crimes. BJP will bring development if voted to office. Sabka hisab liya jayega (We will make everyone accountable),” he said in his 49-minute speech. “Intimidation and threats have become TMC’s weapon. It is running with the help of goons,” he said. “This nirmam sarkar will not be able to stop change this time. BJP has the blessings of Mahishashurmardini (Durga),” he added, mentioning several of Bengal’s icons, including Rishi Bankim Chandra, Rabindranath Tagore, Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, and Swami Vivekananda, to undercut Trinamool’s narrative of BJP being a “party of outsiders” in Bengal. PM Modi then focused on what he described as “demographic change happening in Bengal” and Trinamool’s alleged role in it. “Bengal’s roti, beti and mati (bread, daughter and soil) are under threat now. Their land is being grabbed by infiltrators. The demography of the state has changed and has made Bengal unsafe. Bengali Hindus are being made a minority,” he said. “Criminals have a free run. Seven and eight-year-olds and tribal women are being raped and the nirmam sarkar is protecting the rapists. It is the same mentality that has caused the highest number of acid attacks in Bengal,” PM Modi alleged, adding that BJP will make Bengal safe for women. “This is PM Modi’s guarantee.” PM Modi then used the recent exchange between the state administration and President Droupadi Murmu to question Trinamool’s “attitude towards tribals”. “Dalits are the most deceived people in the state. A few days ago, the state administration was responsible for the mismanagement of President Murmu’s visit to Bengal. Trinamool could never accept a tribal woman in such a high position,” he alleged, adding: “Murmu is known for her simplicity and she expressed her pain. It was an insult to thousands of Dalit women and the Indian Constitution. Bengal will give a befitting reply.” Murmu’s criticism about the way she was treated at a Siliguri event earlier this week had prompted CM Mamata Banerjee to accuse BJP of using President’s office for politics. PM Modi also referred to Banerjee’s recent remarks about a community. “People are being threatened. It is being said that members of a specific community will kill them. How can anyone holding a constitutional position make a comment like that,” he asked, attributing Trinamool’s opposition to the SIR of electoral rolls as another example of its “vote-bank politics”. He also slammed TMC for trying to stop people from attending his rally. “Those coming to this rally were abused as ‘thieves’. But the people of Bengal know who the real thief is. This nirmam sarkar stopped vehicles and blocked bridges but could not stop the deluge of people. This crowd reflects the mood of Bengal.” PM Modi accused TMC of blocking several central schemes and being “anti-development”. “This administration has cursed the youth with migration. Bengal’s youths are talented and hardworking but are forced to go to other states for work. Development has taken a back seat. Investments have stopped and industries shut down. Jobs are being sold here. It is PM Modi’s guarantee to give jobs to the youth of Bengal,” he added. Before his rally, PM Modiinaugurated infrastructure projects worth Rs 18,680 crore.
