PM Modi (PTI photo)
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday addressed a public rally in West Bengal’s Malda, calling for “asli poribortan” and sharply attacking the state’s ruling party, the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress, while alleging that the TMC is turning “infiltrators into voters.” Taking a direct jibe at the Mamata government, he said that “divisive politics” has long been the norm in eastern India, and highlighted the BJP’s recent poll victories in the BMC, Bihar, Odisha, and Assam, stating that “BJP has freed these states from their clutches.”He also credited the people of India, especially Gen Z, for reposing their faith in the BJP and its “development model”.Earlier in the day, PM Modi flagged off the Amrit Bharat and Vande Bharat sleeper trains connecting Howrah and Guwahati.In his Malda address, the Prime Minister said the incumbent government has failed to meet expectations and expressed that he senses the “Bengal people’s urge for real change.””I am telling you in a loud voice today from the soil of Malda that as soon as the BJP government is formed in Bengal, all corrupt activities of the Trinamool will come to a halt,” he said.While, calling for change in Bengal, the PM coined slogan for poll-bound state — “Paltano darkar, chai BJP sarkar.” PM Modi added, “Bengal has showered me with immense love. I can see the belief of ‘asli poribortan’ (real change) for Bengal’s development. Today, our country is working to achieve the target of becoming developed by 2047, and for a ‘Viksit Bharat’ it is necessary that eastern India develops too.”He also said that Malda is key to West Bengal’s development.In his speech, PM Modi reflected on Bengal’s demography, stating, “In many areas of Bengal, demography has changed due to infiltration. TMC’s hooliganism and threat politics will stop soon.”The PM added, “Riots are happening in Malda, Murshidabad, and other parts of Bengal due to infiltration.”He further assured, “Refugees like the Matuas who took shelter in India due to religious persecution need not worry.”
