Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech at Kolkata’s Brigade Parade ground on Saturday, ahead of the Assembly elections in West Bengal, marked a significant shift in tone and tenor as compared to his pre-poll address at the same venue five years ago.
But this time, his speech was more pointed, emphasising on accountability and taking the TMC to task.
Speaking from the dais modeled on Dakshineshwar Temple, a quintessential cultural symbol of West Bengal, Modi on Saturday said, “We have been talking of Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas. But today I will tell you sabka hisab liya jayega (everyone will be held accountable). Chun chun ke hisab liya jayega (Every single one will be made to pay). We will restore the rule of law. And those involved in corruption, syndicate and cut money systems will be sent to jail.”
PM Modi emphasised that the upcoming elections were not just about changing the government, but about saving the soul of Bengal and ending a corrupt system. “It is about saving the soul of Bengal. It is about change of a corrupt system and freedom from here,” he said.
In 2021, when the TMC was fighting 10 years of incumbency after ending the 34 years of rule of the Left Front, Prime Minister spoke about how after the people of Bengal brought in poriborton (change), but their trust was betrayed by the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress.
“The people of Bengal brought in poriborton and changed the Left regime. But Didi (Mamata Banerjee) and her cadres broke the trust of the people. They insulted Bengal. It is time for ‘asol poriborton’ (real change). Asol Poribartan means a Bengal where youth will get opportunity to study and work in the state. They will not have to flee Bengal to get a job. It means where businesses will flourish and investments will come. From North Bengal to Junglemahal (tribal belt) to the backward communities, everyone will have equal opportunities,” Modi had said in his Brigade rally five years ago.
Modi had even taken a swipe at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, asking, “Didi aap ko itna gussa kyun?” (Didi, why are you so angry) and had lashed out at her and TMC leaders, saying he was called names “‘Didi aap ko itna gussa kyun’ (Didi, why are you so angry “even a demon”.
This time, Modi refrained from making any direct attack on the chief minister, barring one instance where he criticised Mamata Banerjee for her remark that “if the TMC is not there (in power in the state), then one community will create trouble for others in Bengal”.
“How can someone say that if the TMC is not there, then one community will finish the other community. Such statements are not befitting you,” Modi said on Saturday, without directly taking the CM’s name.
In 2021, Modi had replied to TMC’s charge of crony capitalism, saying, “My opponents say that I work for my friends. Who we grow up with are our best friends. I grew up in poverty, hence I understand the plight of poor people living in every corner of India. I work for my friends and will continue to do so.”
The BJP was then buoyant after the party’s 2019 Lok Sabha performance when it had bagged 18 of the 42 parliamentary seats in West Bengal. However, in the 2021 Assembly elections, the party, though emerged as the main Opposition party, secured only 77 seats, while the TMC rode to power in the state for the third straight term with 213 seats.
A lot has changed since.
On Saturday, Modi highlighted issues like the controversial Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, and slammed the TMC for questioning the Election Commission’s integrity.
“TMC protests against SIR, so that infiltrators still remain in the electoral role. They want even dead voters to remain in the roll. They (TMC) have gone to the extent of insulting constitutional bodies. When the Election Commission is trying to clean the electoral roll, TMC is questioning its integrity. They have given the same treatment to the Indian army, asking for proof from the Indian air force after the Balakot strike,” he said.
Describing the law and order situation in the state as “jungle raj”, Modi said that countdown of its end has begun and invoked the RG Kar rape-murder case. “The TMC has taken in the mafias and criminals, who were active in the Left regime under their fold. The TMC is shielding criminals. Look at what happened in Sandeshkhali. Here, even in a college a girl is raped. People of Bengal have not forgotten RG Kar (rape and murder of a doctor) incident. Accused persons in such atrocities are always connected with TMC. Now mothers tell their daughters in Bengal, return home before sundown,” PM said.
He also criticised the TMC for “insulting” the President of India, Droupadi Murmu. “The TMC government has crossed all limits. The President who is a daughter of an adivasi (tribal) family was to attend a programme in Bengal. But in its arrogance TMC government insulted. They disrespected the highest post of the country. TMC did not only insult Droupadi Murmu, but the tribal society,” Modi said.
Apart from promising development for West Bengal, he accused the TMC-led state government of blocking central government initiatives like Ayushman Bharat and PM Awas Yojana.
PM Narendra Modi at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata earlier this month. (File Photo) 
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