'Show report card of work since 2014,' CM dares PM

Panighata/Bagula (Nadia): Continuing her tirade against the Central government, Trinamool Congress Supremo Mamata Banerjee on Saturday dared Prime Minister Narendra Modi to produce the 'report card' of his government for the past five years. Launching a blistering attack on Modi, Banerjee said the people of the country want to know what the Centre has done in five years. She alleged that the Modi government has done nothing other than killing people in the name of cow vigilantism. The Trinamool supremo was addressing two separate election rallies at Panighata and Bagula in Nadia in favour of Mahua Moitra and Rupali Biswas, contesting from Krishnanagar and Ranaghat respectively.

"What have you (Modi) done in the last five years? People were butchered in the name of cow vigilantism. Cow vigilantes beheaded people and later played football with their heads. People belonging to minority communities, tribals and other backward classes have been oppressed. The names of around 22 lakh Hindu Bengalis have been removed from the NRC," said an irate Banerjee.

While addressing the rally at Panighata, she took a dig at the saffron party, saying: "Some BJP leaders from outside the state are saying that we have done nothing. People of Bengal will consider if we have done anything for the state. It is not an election of the state. It is the Lok Sabha election. You must come clear and list out what development the PM has done in five years. Most of the time he has toured foreign countries and never cared for the well-being of the people."

Banerjee challenged Modi by saying: "Aage Samlao Delhi, Pore Banglar Dike Takao (First save your government at the Centre then spare a thought for Bengal). They are talking about Bengal when the future of the government at the Centre is hanging in the balance."

Countering the Prime Minister's election rally at Buniadpur where he alleged that Banerjee did not bring any projects to Bengal as railway minister, the Bengal Chief Minister said no rail projects have been given to Bengal by the Modi government.

"As a railway minister I introduced a host of projects and launched a number of new trains. The PM is saying lies after being briefed by some of the BJP leaders in the state. He must cross-check before saying anything in this regard," she retorted.

"The Modi government has miserably failed to deliver on the promises it had made. You promised 2 crore jobs per year but not a single job was created. Instead, 2 crore people have become jobless due to your various anti-people steps. Businessmen across the country were seriously hit due to an ill conceived demonetisation. Where is the Rs 15 lakh they had promised?" the Chief Minister questioned, while addressing a gathering at Bagula.

"People of India will reject you this time. Modi is now suffering from haratanko (fear of losing election). RSS people are talking about controlling me as I raise protests against them," she added.

She also reminded that Bengal will play a pivotal role in forming the new government at the Centre. "Uttar Pradesh and Bengal, with the help of some other parties, will form the new government at the Centre. We will win in all the 42 seats here in Bengal," Banerjee stated emphatically.

The Trinamool supremo also presented a detailed account of the development works initiated or done in the district.