Modi, Mamata in furious war of words

Kolkata/Dinhata: Narendra Modi and Mamata Banerjee Wednesday went for each other's jugular in battleground West Bengal, with the prime minister castigating "speedbreaker Didi" for stalling the state's development and the TMC chief hitting back warning he will face a "voter strike".

Modi, who kicked off his Lok Sabha campaign in West Bengal with back to back rallies in Siliguri and Kolkata, hit out at Banerjee over a host of issues including alleged lack of development, perpetuating family rule and for seeking proof of Indian Air Force's retributive strike on terror camps in Pakistan to avenge Pulwama killing of 40 CRPF troopers.

Not the one who would take things lying down, the West Bengal chief minister mounted a blistering counteroffensive, mocking Modi's "56-inch chest" and claiming his government did nothing to save the lives of the CRPF jawans despite having "information" about the impending terror attack.

"We are nationalists not fascists," she asserted.

Modi launched his campaign, all guns blazing, as he targeted Banerjee, calling her the "speedbreaker" in the path of the state's development who wanted poverty to stay so her "politics of poverty" can flourish.

At both the rallies, Modi slammed opposition parties for seeking proof of the damage done by the Indian Air Force in Pakistan's Balakot where terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed's training camps were targeted.

"While your chest swelled with pride and you held your head high, some people began crying and shouting here," he told the rally at Siliguri.

He accused both the Congress and the TMC of "perpetuating family rule".

Hardly had Modi concluded his speech at Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata when Banerjee took the microphone at a rally in north Bengal's Dinhata, calling the prime minister "expiry babu" (one whose time to go had come).

"I am not Modi, I don't tell lies," she declared, as she took on the prime minister over his "speedbreaker Didi" jibe.

Claiming that 12,000 farmers had ended their lives under Modi's prime ministership, she listed out various social welfare schemes undertaken by her government like 'Kanyashree' for girls, 'Yuvashree' for the young people.

Banerjee said West Bengal has been awarded by the Government of India for being the best state in implementing the 100-day minimum work guarantee scheme, the Centre's flagship rural employment programme.

"It's not my claim but your government has given the award for the achievement," the feisty West Bengal leader said.

Livid at Modi's remarks on Pulwama terror attack and the Balakot air strike by the IAF, Banerjee shot back, claiming the government did nothing to thwart the bombing of the CRPF convoy despite having "information".