Apparently setting the election agenda for the BJP in Bengal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday focused on women voters, one of the main electoral bases of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. He expressed regret over the insensitive attitude of the Indian National Democratic Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) towards “the better half of the population,” citing their handling of the sexually abused women in Sandeshkhali.

Addressing a massive rally in Arambagh, Hooghly district, the Prime Minister, who launched projects worth ` 7,000 crore for developing railways, ports, petroleum, and other sectors, criticised the Trinamool Congress Government for protecting an accused of land grab and dishonouring women in Sandeshkhali.

He refrained from naming specific politicians but highlighted how leaders from the Congress, the TMC, and the Left parties remained silent on the oppression of women and the poor in Sandeshkhali during meetings held in Patna, Bengaluru, and Mumbai.

“When asked for his reactions the national president of the Congress party said on Sandeshkhali that such incidents are usual in these areas ... Is this not an insult on the women of Bengal, the great men of the State who created the template of the Independence movement,” Modi asked, saying the women of Sandeshkhali and Bengal were hurt and angry and would “avenge their insult in the elections.”

Saying that the TMC and its leadership were the protectors of the corrupt, the Prime Minister said the people of Bengal had made up their mind to throw them out of power.

The Prime Minister’s meeting at Arambagh assumes importance against the backdrop of the party’s defeat here in the 2019 general elections by a small margin of about 1,300 votes.

Incidentally Arambagh is also adjacent to Hooghly parliamentary seat presently held by BJP’S Locket Chatterjee.

Attacking the TMC, and Congress for failing India and Bengal in development schemes, the Prime Minister said how the Centre had started a number of schemes which had taken off in other States but were being hindered in Bengal.

“Till the TMC Government is there in Bengal no development can take place... They will only promote the criminals and the corrupt,” he said, adding how scams worth crores had taken place in teachers’ recruitment, ration and many other departments in Bengal.

“Their leaders have gone to jail for perpetrating corruption in teachers’ recruitment, cattle smuggling ... Till they are in power no development can take place in Bengal,” said the Prime Minister, adding only the BJP can develop Bengal and look after the people’s interest as they did in Sandeshkhali.

“The TMC is only engaged in corrupt and criminal activities and appeasement politics... Now even the Muslims have decided to leave them,” the Prime Minister, who will address yet another meeting at Krishnagar in Nadia district on Saturday, said.