Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday launched a direct attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, saying said the “didi” (or sister as she is affectionately called) has now become a “shahenshah” (emperor) who does not care about the state.
“Five years back, I had been hearing of ‘poriborton’ (change). I also thought change will come (in West Bengal). Change did come, but it came in didi’s nature, her motives, her manner of work. But there was no change in Bengal.
“The opposition leader who used to fight on the streets, that Mamata didi changed so much that she does not care for anybody, she has become a shahenshah, such change is not what is desired in democracy,” Modi said addressing an election rally in Kharagpur town of West Midnapore district.
He also came down heavily on the Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress by referring to the Saradha chit fund scam and the purported sting operation carried out by the portal Narada News that showed several party leaders, including former central ministers, current state ministers, and MPs allegedly taking bundles of cash.
Asking the people whether they had brought the Trinamool to power in 2011 to see them go neck deep in corruption, the prime minister said: “First, there was Saradha, now Narada. From Saradha to Narada, in Narada, the entire leadership ... when will you give the next installment?
“Did you want such a poriborton? That they will take bundles of notes before the camera? Whose money is this? This is your money, this is the money of the janta janardan (people), which has been looted, and is now been distributed.”
Drawing a contrast with the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance government at the Centre, Modi said: “I am also in power in Delhi for almost two years. But has there been even one spot on us? Has there been even one rupee of graft?”
He asserted that he would prefer to go hungry than “steal from the people’s pockets”.
Modi, on his maiden campaign for the West Bengal assembly polls, stopped his speech midway following azaan (call to prayer) from a nearby mosque.
Even as thousands of people who had gathered there egged him to continue, Modi gestured with his hands signalling them to calm down.
“Excuse me, azaan was on. Because of me, there should not be any problem to anyone’s worshiping, so I paused for a few minutes,” Modi said, before resuming his speech.
Earlier in the day, addressing a rally in  Rangapara in Assam Modi said a strong wind blowing across the state was all set to uproot the ruling Congress in the forthcoming polls, and appealed to the people for a decisive mandate in favour of the BJP.
The two-phase assembly polls in Assam’s 126 constituencies will be held on April 4 and 11.
“Today my programme was at 10am and I was wondering how the people will come so early. There are no roads also here. But I am happy to see such a large gathering... I assure you that I’ll return this love of yours with interest by doing development works,” Modi told people at the rally.
“...this time, I can see that there is a strong wind of change blowing here, which will uproot the Congress. The bad governance of 15 years will end and there will be a new sunrise of development,” he said.
Targeting the Congress for the problems of people in Assam, Modi appealed for a decisive mandate.
“When you press the button on April 4 and April 11, keep in your mind the Congress’ misrule of 60 years. The reason behind your problems is only these people (Congress). Press the button in such a way that BJP and its allies get an absolute majority. Never give an indecisive mandate, otherwise your future will be left insecure.”
Modi said the people of India gave a decisive mandate to the BJP in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. And now India is getting applauded worldwide.
“If you want to listen to the same applause for Assam, vote for absolute majority to BJP and its allies in the forthcoming polls.”
Highlighting lack of development in Assam’s northern region, Modi said: “This area is left out from development. In Assam, they spend money from state exchequer only in those assembly seats which they can win to form a government. They are not bothered about others. This is the reason why this area has remained left out from development.”