Says contest is between the ‘bhay’ spread by ruling party in W Bengal and the BJP’s ‘bharosa’
Cooch Behar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday made the Malda gherao of judicial officers the fulcrum of the BJP’s campaign on alleged lawlessness in West Bengal, calling it a sign of the TMC’s “maha jungleraj” and pitching the Assembly polls as a contest between the “bhay” spread by the ruling party and the BJP’s “bharosa”.
Addressing his first election rally in Bengal in Cooch Behar after the poll schedule was announced, Modi used the Malda incident to sharpen the BJP’s focus on law and order and alleged demographic change. He also invoked Sandeshkhali, infiltration from Bangladesh, corruption and unemployment to target the Mamata Banerjee government.
Framing the election as a decisive battle for Bengal’s future, Modi said “chun chun ke hisab hoga” for alleged atrocities by TMC workers once the rule of law prevails after May 4. He said the government was “staining democracy with blood” and showed no respect for constitutional institutions.
Referring to the incident at Malda’s Kaliachak-II block office, where judicial officers were gheraoed for hours, Modi questioned how a system where even judges are not safe could protect ordinary citizens. He alleged the episode reflected a “sponsored maha jungleraj” and claimed that whenever “the noose of justice tightens”, the TMC targets constitutional institutions. He added that the situation had become so serious that even the Supreme Court had to intervene.
Modi framed the contest in binary terms, saying voters must choose between TMC’s “fear” and the BJP’s “trust”. He contrasted alleged corruption and “cut money” with the BJP’s promise of development, and warned of infiltration and demographic change versus what he described as the BJP’s assurance of security and dignity.
Seeking support from Hindu refugees and Matuas in border districts, Modi accused the TMC of opposing the Special Intensive
Revision of electoral rolls and the Citizenship Amendment Act to protect infiltrators. He alleged that
demographic changes in border areas were being enabled by political patronage and said Bengal’s identity was under threat.
He also criticised the TMC’s use of the word “Ishtihar” for its manifesto, linking it to historical references and accusing the party of playing appeasement politics.
On governance, Modi said Bengal had declined under successive Congress, Left and TMC governments, with incomes falling below the national average and industries leaving the state. He also cited the SSC recruitment scam, alleging corruption had harmed the prospects of the youth.
He assured voters that after May 4, every alleged act of corruption and violence would be investigated and urged them not to fear intimidation on polling day, expressing confidence in free and fair elections under the Election Commission.
