Abhishek trains gun on PM, accuses him of 'insulting Tagore'

Kolkata: All India Trinamool Youth Congress president Abhishek Banerjee on Thursday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whom he accused of insulting Rabindranath Tagore.

While addressing an election rally at Sonamukhi under Bishnupur constituency, Banerjee said: "The Prime Minister has insulted Rabindranath Tagore, whom we hold in great esteem. When the entire Bengal is celebrating the 158th birth anniversary of Tagore through various programmes, the Prime Minister and his party are trying to incite people by shouting the slogan 'Jay Shree Ram'. BJP leaders are distributing their party flags among many youths and asking them to shout the slogan."

Incidentally, the Prime Minister had attended an election rally in Bankura earlier in the day. Banerjee also blamed Modi for projecting a larger-than-life image of himself. "Are you trying to establish that you are above everyone else?" asked an irate Banerjee.

A sitting Trinamool Congress MP from Diamond Harbour, Banerjee campaigned in favour of party candidate Shyamal Santra, who is contesting from Bishnupur constituency.

Taking a dig at the Prime Minister, he said: "Where are the jobs? During the previous Lok Sabha elections, Modi had promised that he would create 2 crore jobs and Rs 15 lakh would be credited to the bank account of every individual. Did he deliver on his promises? How much have you given to the Bengal government in the past five years?"

Banerjee also lashed out at former IPS officer Bharati Ghosh, who is contesting from Ghatal on BJP's ticket, saying that she has insulted the people of Bengal.

"Even CPI(M), which ruled the state for 34 years, could not stoop to the level which the BJP leaders have reached. They are saying that they would bring people from Uttar Pradesh and beat the people of Bengal like dogs," Banerjee said, referring to Ghosh's controversial remarks.

He assured the people of Bishnupur that he would bring Rs 3 lakh crore from the Centre within June 23, after Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee plays a constructive role in forming the new government at the Centre.

He also held another election rally at Indus, falling under the same Lok Sabha constituency on Thursday.

Banerjee is contesting the election from his own turf in Diamond Harbour, which will go to polls during the last phase on May 19.