Takeaways from Modi, Mamata rally fireworks: CAA-NRC to Sandeshkhali, INDIA to agencies

PM Modi held his rally at Rash Mela ground in Cooch Behar town for the BJP’s candidate and sitting MP Nisith Pramanik, the Union minister of state for home affairs. Mamata addressed a public meeting at Mathabhanga in the constituency for the TMC’s Jagadish Barma Basunia, the sitting Sitai MLA and Rajbanshi leader. Here are some key takeaways from the two rallies.

This was PM Modi’s first rally in Bengal after the poll schedule was announced by the Election Commission (EC) on March 16. He had addressed four rallies in the state during 1-9 March, the first at Arambagh in Hooghly district, the second at Krishnanagar in Nadia district, the third at Barasat in North 24 Parganas and the fourth one at Siliguri in Darjeeling district.

At the Cooch Behar rally, Modi showcased his government’s works in the last ten years, stressing on the need to elect a strong government at the Centre. “For India to become the third largest economy in the world, you need to elect a majboot sarkar (strong government). A government which is not only stable but works round the clock for the people,” he said.

Modi attacked the Mamata-led TMC dispensation over corruption as well as atrocities against women, referring to recent incidents in Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas, where allegations of sexual abuse against some TMC leaders recently surfaced.

Modi also slammed the Opposition INDIA bloc for “spreading canards” about the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), saying it is “Modi’s guarantee to provide citizenship to those who have faith in Maa Bharati (Mother India)”.

He said, “The INDIA alliance of TMC, Left and Congress never cared for Rajbanshi, Namasudra and Matua communities. Their only intention is to mislead these people…. Their politics is based on spreading lies and misinformation. But ours is based on development,” adding that in Bengal the INDIA allies “fight against each other but stand united in Delhi”.

Modi also called for strengthening the BJP in Bengal to take the state forward in terms of development.

A politically-influential SC (Scheduled Castes) group, Matuas belong to the Namasudra community that migrated to West Bengal from East Bengal during the Partition and after the formation of Bangladesh in 1971. Due to the circumstances of their migration, many of them never formally received Indian citizenship.

The PM also thanked Mamata for “not putting any obstacles to hold this rally” unlike 2019 when, he said, “she had erected a stage in the middle of the ground so that it caused inconvenience to BJP workers”.

Addressing her rally, Mamata tore into the BJP over several issues, accusing the Modi government of allegedly blocking funds to Bengal.

The CM also raked up the issue of alleged misuse of central agencies, alleging “BJP does not respect the guidelines and codes of the EC because they consider it as their own institution.

Nobody looks at what’s happening there in the BJP camp. There are no consequences for their transgressions – be it assaulting someone or arresting them. Today, elections are being conducted using central agencies. They are going to every home and saying – BJP ke vote dao, agency theke mukti pao. (Give vote to BJP, get relief from agencies).”

The TMC supremo also referred to the Sitalkuchi incident in Cooch Behar during the 2021 Assembly polls when four people were killed in the CISF firing. “This was carried out under the instruction of someone who still has cases registered against him but has now been given clearance by the Centre. He (former IPS officer Debasish Dhar) is now contesting from Birbhum (on BJP ticket),” she said.

Mamata also targeted Pramanik who had defected to the BJP from the TMC several years ago. Cooch Behar has now been witnessing clashes between the supporters of Pramanik and state minister Udayan Guha.

Referring to cases pending against Pramanik, the CM charged that it was “a matter of national shame” that he is Union MoS for home affairs.

Like her previous rallies, Mamata also raked up the CAA-NRC (National Register of Citizens) issue, asking people not to apply for citizenship under the CAA as they would have to declare that they are foreigners.

“They were screaming CAA-CAA ahead of polls. CAA is the head and NRC is the tail. Now, they are saying that a priest can give it (citizenship). How can this be possible under the law? There should be a limit to their lies and them depriving people,” she alleged.

Mamata also targeted her INDIA partners, the Congress and CPI(M), for allegedly “joining hands with the BJP” in the state, asking people not to vote for them if they “want to defeat the BJP”.

The TMC is contesting all 42 seats in the state alone.

Once a stronghold of the Left Front constituent Forward Bloc, the Cooch Behar seat is now seen as a BJP bastion, which the TMC is making all attempts to wrest from the party. In the 2019 polls, Pramanik had defeated the TMC’s Paresh Chandra Adhikary by over 54,000 votes.