Prime Minister Narendra Modi bats for Citizenship Bill, urges Mamata Banerjee to back it

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a blistering attack on West Bengal chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at a rally in Thakurnagar, North 24 Parganas on Saturday. Accusing her of orchestrating violence against BJP workers, PM Modi pitched for the Citizenship Amendment Bill. He said that after Independence, the country was divided into several parts. "People belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Parsee and Jain communities had fled to places like Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Should not they be given citizenship here? That is why we have brought in the Citizenship Amendment Bill in Parliament. I want to tell TMC to support it so that it can be passed easily and people can get their rights," PM Modi said.

The BJP is aiming to win at least 23 seats from Bengal in the General elections.

Addressing an emotionally charged crowd, PM Modi praised the Interim Budget saying that no political party had ever done so much for farmers since Independence.

The BJP launched a multi-pronged attack on TMC and Congress with four rallies across the state.

Two of the rallies were led by PM Modi and Union home minister Rajnath Singh.

PM Modi said that for several decades after Independence, the misery of farmers remained unchanged and in West Bengal it was worse. "Our government in the last four and a half years had made an honest effort to alleviate the situation," he said. The PM added that the full budget will bring a better picture for farmers and daily wage earners. He claimed that the measures announced would benefit 12 crore small farmers, 30-40 crore labourers, and three crore middle class people.

The PM called the loan waiver policy of Congress in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh as lopsided. "In MP there are reports that those who had not taken loans were getting the loan waiver. The Rajasthan government expressed its helplessness saying it had no idea the cost would come to such a stupendous amount. In Karnataka, the Congress has been politicising these issues. They have the full support of TMC," Modi said.

At Durgapur, PM Modi said that because of TMC government, two dozen projects of infrastructure in Bengal (worth Rs 90,000 crore) have been either halted or progressing at a snail's pace. "These projects are that of road, rail, water, power, coal, petroleum and health. There is not an iota of cooperation from the state government," he said.

Talking about the TMC government's pulling out of Ayushman Bharat project he said that the about 17 crore people in Bengal were getting the advantage of health coverage up to Rs 5 lakh but Mamata had stopped it mid-way. "I have been told that Didi pulled out because the poor people who had been getting advantage of the scheme were saying 'Modi Modi'. That disturbed Didi very much," he said.

He threw a challenge at Mamata asking why was she so afraid of CBI? "It is a movement that I have started against corruption. I ask you Didi, why are you so afraid if you know you have not done anything? I have been interrogated for hours together during the UPA rule but I knew I am honest," Modi said.