Narendra Modi slams Mamata Banerjee over Saradha scam, TMC calls him “Butcher of Gujarat”

In a no-holds barred attack on Mamata Banerjee and her government in West Bengal, BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on Sunday (April 27) warned of strict action in the Saradha scam issue after formation of government at the Centre.

Narendra Modi with Bappi Lahiri, Chandan Mitra, George Baker at Sreerampore Stadium, in Hooghly disstrict. (IE Photo: Partha Paul)

"I want to tell all the investors in Saradha from Odisha, Bengal and Assam that I announce from this meeting ground that after the formation of the government in Delhi, strict action will be taken on this," Modi said at an election rally here. "Saradha is the other name of Saraswati, she is worshipped everywhere, and this Saradha turned into a chit fund? Mamataji, we did not expect this from you," Modi said.

Later Trinamool Congress heaped scorn on Narendra Modi, calling him the "Butcher of Gujarat", in an angry retaliation to his no-holds barred attack on Mamata Banerjee. "Butcher of Gujarat air-dropped into Bengal. He has no answers to Bengal’s development model. So, making personal attacks," TMC Spokesperson Derek O"Brien said in a series of tweets lambasting the BJP Prime Ministerial candidate after the latter's fresh attack on the party supremo at a rally in Serampore earlier in the day. (IE Photo: Partha Paul)

Firing a salvo at Mamata Banerjee for the second time in the past three weeks after adopting a soft approach two months ago, Narendra Modi raked up the Saradha scam and said he did not expect this from the Trinamool supremo.

"Personally, I have always respected you. But what have you done, you have broken the dreams of the people of Bengal," Narendra Modi said. "So much lust for the chair? The people of Bengal had so much expectations from you and gave you so much love, and you could have done so much for the state, but you are doing what the Left had been doing. (IE Photo: Parth Paul)

"You are walking on their footsteps only. You have imbibed the bad things of both the Left and the Congress," said Narendra Modi, who had in the beginning gone soft on Banerjee, but stepped up his attack on her recently.

Seen here with Bappi Lahiri. (IE Photo: Partha Paul)

Turning to the large gathering, Modi asked whether those involved in the scam should be punished and whether the sufferers should not be paid back their investments.

Modi greets Bappi Lahiri. (IE Photo: Partha Paul)

Sarcastically lauding Banerjee's talent for painting, Narendra Modi said, "Your paintings used to be sold for Rs four lakh, Rs 8 lakh or Rs 15 lakh, but what is the reason that one of your paintings sold for Rs 1.80 crore. I respect art. But who was the person who bought the painting for Rs 1.80 crore." "Who all have bought her paintings, for what price they bought it, suddenly how they found out your talent, this the people of Bengal want to know. (IE Photo: Partha Paul)