KOLKATA: PM Narendra Modi on Friday used infiltration and corruption as sticks to beat Trinamool Congress (TMC) during his third visit to West Bengal in 12 weeks.”Trinamool jaabe, poriborton hobey,” Modi said in a 39-minute speech that contained a smattering of Bengali. Speaking at Dumdum Central Jail ground, Modi said infiltration was snatching jobs and putting pressure on the country’s infrastructure. He raised the slogan “Banchte Chai, BJP Tai” (We want BJP because we want to live) and said parties like Trinamool were opposing the anti-corruption bill.”Their politics is based on corruption. Their men tried to tear the bill in Parliament. We have seen how bundles of notes were recovered from the residence of a former Trinamool minister. He is in jail now. Should we allow such people to be in govt,” he said.”Developed nations across the world are trying to stop infiltration. I have made it clear through the announcement of the high-powered demographic mission that India will not tolerate infiltration,” the PM said. “Those who snatch jobs and put pressure on infrastructure will not be allowed to stay in India.”Modi blamed TMC and Congress for “appeasement politics” and said border areas in Bengal were seeing demographic change. “They (infiltrators) are snatching land from farmers and tribals, bread and butter from the youth,” he said.The PM alleged that money sent for centrally sponsored schemes was being sp-ent on TMC cadre instead of on welfare of women and men of Bengal. He said BJP had a specific roadmap in place for development of Bengal, adding, “If voted to office in 2026, BJP will transform Bengal into the state of Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s dreams.””We want to create infrastructure for electric vehicles in the state. This will create jobs here. Closed factories will start to run again and investment will pour in. I want to ask ‘bhadraloks’ of Bengal if policies of Trinamool were helping the state. Give BJP a chance,” he added.
