BJP is the only party rooted to Bengal: PM Modi in Kharagpur rally

Modi, during his rally at BNR Ground in Kharagpur, took the name Jana Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mukherjee to justify his comment.

"BJP is indebted to Bengal because the founder of Jana Sangh is Shyama Prasad Mookherji who is the son of the soil. So BJP is the only party which is rooted to Bengal," he said.

Modi's comment has assumed significance as the Trinamool Congress (TMC) is targeting the BJP as an "outsider party" in once-a-Left citadel.

TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, who has been in power for 10 years, has termed the BJP leaders, no less than Union Home Minister Amit Shah, as outsiders to the state.

In his hard-hitting, impactful speech, Modi attacked the West Bengal Chief Minister for blocking the central schemes and developmental works, reminding his famous "Speed-Breaker Didi" jibe during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

"While the entire country is praising the new education policy, Didi is opposing it and stalling it from getting implemented. I promise Didi won’t be allowed to play with youth’s future. Khela sesh hobe, vikas arombho hobe (the game will be over and development will kick start)," the Prime Minister said.

"Didi stood in the way of development. While you have trusted her, she has given you corruption and destroyed Bengal," the BJP stalwart said.

Like in every other rallies, Modi lashed out at the TMC's alleged corruption which has turned out to be the most talked issue in the upcoming polls beginning on Mar 27.

"Didi’s party is the pathshala of nirmamta (school of insensitivity). In her pathshala, syllabus is extortion, corruption, syndicate, misrule," the BJP leader said, and added, "Only mafia investment has been allowed to operate in Bengal."

As Mamata's turf is the last frontier in the eastern India to be conquered by the BJP, Modi on Saturday appealed to people to install the "double engine" government in the state.

"People have witnessed the Congress rule, the destruction by the Communists and the shattering of dreams by the TMC. Give us just five years to turn Bengal into Sonar Bangla," the Prime Minister said, and added, "Bengal will be out of trouble only when the same government runs both in Delhi and the state. So we need a double engine government."

He said, "People went restless when WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram went down for 50-55 minutes yesterday. Now imagine development is down for 50-55 years in Bengal! I can understand people’s restlessness."

Countering the Prime Minister, TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee said, "The Prime Minister has knowledge of WhatsApp, Facebook getting down but he has no knowledge of people dying of hunger and women are sexually assaulted in Uttar Pradesh."

"The BJP works in WhatsApp while we work on the ground," Mamata's nephew added.