Kamal Ghorui
KOLKATA: PM Narendra Modi sharpened his attack on Trinamool Congress, declaring in rallies across Bengal that “mothers and sisters” would punish it for stymying the women’s reservation bill and urging voters to deliver “maha-punishment” to what he called “maha-jungleraj”, reports Rohit Khanna. Addressing four rallies in six hours Sunday — Bankura’s Barjora, Purulia, Jhargram and Midnapore — before the April 23 phase of the assembly polls, Modi accused TMC and Congress of “conspiring” against women. “Women’s welfare is Modi’s guarantee,” he said, alleging TMC is “maa virodhi (opposed to mothers)”.Trinamool has deceived Bengal’s daughters, who wanted 33% reservation to be implemented from 2029. Modi tried to implement that. If women join the legislature in large numbers, they will speak for their rights. TMC thinks woman MLAs from villages and districts will make them accountable for their misdeeds,” the prime minister said, adding the party “connived with Congress” to block amendments. A brief stop at a jhalmuri shop in Jhargram during the campaign leg drew attention online as BJP pushed for a last-mile voter connect. Modi outlined welfare promises, saying pregnant women would get Rs 21,000 and Rs 5,000 after childbirth, cervical cancer vaccination would be free, and medicines would be available at steep discounts through Jan Aushadhi outlets.Also Read | ‘Do you eat onions?’ PM Modi takes ‘jhalmuri break’ during Bengal poll campaign – watch He also spoke of an annual Rs 36,000 support for women, free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh and dialysis in govt hospitals. Modi accused Trinamool of seeking religion-based reservation. “Muslims are being brought within the ambit of reservation for other backward classes. This is against the Constitution,” he said. He also warned of “infiltration”, saying Bengal risked losing its identity. “Trinamool’s agenda is dangerous. It wants to establish a govt of infiltrators, which will protect religion and language of infiltrators,” he said. Targeting the party on tribal outreach, he alleged it is following the tactic employed by “Nehru to defeat Babasaheb Ambedkar”. The PM said: “BJP nominated the country’s first tribal woman President. Trinamool put up a candidate against her. They played a game to prevent a tribal woman from becoming President.” He alleged tribal districts lagged under Trinamool and land was being usurped by “syndicates”.
