3 min readKolkataJan 18, 2026 07:03 AM IST
First published on: Jan 17, 2026 at 06:13 PM IST
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday attacked the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, saying that the party was using infiltrators as its vote bank and asserting that the state needed a change in government.
Addressing a public rally in the state’s Malda district, Modi said, “Paltano dorkar, chai BJP sarkar (Need a change here, need BJP government here).”
The biggest challenge for West Bengal, Modi said, is infiltration, and infiltrators cannot be sent back as long as the TMC is in power.
“Even in developed countries, they are removing infiltrators. It is very important that infiltrators are removed in West Bengal… The TMC minister and syndicate for years have made these infiltrators voters, and they have snatched away the rights of the youth, and spread terror all over the country,” he said.
Modi said that in West Bengal, demography and dialect have also changed, and the increase in infiltrators has led to riots in several parts of the state. “Once the BJP comes to power, big action will be taken against infiltrators,” he said.
At the same time, he said, “Matuas and Namashudras who have come from the neighbouring country seeking shelter need not be afraid. They have the right to live here under the Citizenship Amendment Act. The BJP government will bring development to Matuas and Namasudra colonies.”
Assuring that, if elected, the BJP government will bring back the ‘old pride’ of Bengal and Malda, the PM said that people, especially Gen Z, have faith in the party’s development model.
“For decades, eastern India was held captive by those who practised divisive politics. The BJP has freed these states from their clutches. Odisha has formed a BJP government for the first time. Tripura has trusted the BJP for many years. In the recent elections in Assam, it has shown its trust in the BJP. And Bihar has chosen the NDA government once again. So, all around Bengal, there are BJP governments. Now is the time for Bengal to have good governance,” said Modi.
Modi said the current regime led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is looting the public and not allowing the implementation of central schemes. He said that the central government sent flood relief funds 40 times to Bengal, but those who suffered didn’t get them.
“A few days ago, I was reading the CAG report of the Malda floods. This report is very important. It was seen that the money for flood relief was not given to those in need but given to those close to the TMC. Lakhs were distributed among people who did not deserve it, and those who were in trouble got nothing,” he said.
Concluding his speech, the prime minister said the TMC government was a “cruel and stone-hearted one, and it should go”.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is felicitated during a public meeting ahead of the Assembly elections, in Malda district, West Bengal. (Source: PTI) 
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