In a fiery address at a public rally in North Malda, West Bengal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched scathing criticisms against the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Indian National Congress, accusing them of indulging in appeasement politics and having a shared ideology despite their apparent differences.
PM Modi asserted, “TMC and Congress are just pretending to be in conflict in the state, but the truth is, their character and ideology are the same.” He highlighted what he sees as a common thread between the two parties – appeasement politics, which he alleges has led them to oppose key national security decisions.
Taking aim at the TMC and Congress’s opposition to policies such as the abrogation of Article 370 and the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), PM Modi emphasized the benefits of these policies, particularly for marginalized communities. He stated, “Many beneficiaries of the CAA include Dalits. For the sake of appeasement, TMC and Congress want to reject them.”
Accusing Congress of planning an invasive investigation into the assets of citizens, PM Modi painted a grim picture, claiming, “Congress has declared it will investigate all assets of the poor people. They have brought an X-ray machine from abroad and will conduct an X-ray of everyone in the country.” He further alleged that Congress aims to seize assets, including jewellery and property, to appease its vote bank.
Moreover, PM Modi accused the TMC of facilitating illegal immigration from Bangladesh and providing them with land in West Bengal. He warned the audience about Congress’s alleged plans to distribute the wealth of the people to certain vote banks, suggesting that this “loot” would continue both during and after life.
The Prime Minister’s remarks underscored the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) ongoing election strategy in West Bengal, where it seeks to portray itself as the sole defender of national security and the interests of the common people against what it characterizes as appeasement politics practiced by its opponents.
The TMC and Congress are yet to respond to PM Modi’s allegations, but these remarks are likely to intensify the political discourse in the state as the assembly elections draw nearer. With West Bengal being a crucial battleground state, the exchange of accusations and counter-accusations between the ruling TMC and the opposition BJP is expected to escalate in the coming days.
