Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with some victims of Sandeshkhali on Wednesday, where allegations of sexual abuse against TMC leaders have been levelled.

BJP sources said the PM assured them of help. “Some of the victims of sexual attack had come to Barasat, and they met the Prime Minister, and he assured them help,” sources said.

The meeting took place after the PM’s rally at Barasat, which is the headquarters of North 24 Parganas district where Sandeshkhali is located.

The women expressed their happiness at meeting the PM and said they requested him to ensure that the women of Sandeshkhali get justice.

Modi launched a scathing attack on the Mamata Banerjee Government for promoting atrocities against women, as seen at Sandeshkhali block in North 24 Parganas.

“What happened to the mothers and sisters of Sandeshkhali- which hit the national headlines after women here recently rose up in revolt against land-grab and sexual assault against them- was a matter of shame,” he said.

“The TMC has committed a big sin by protecting the people who had insulted our women. It is a matter of big shame, and I am sure the incident at Sandeshkhali has angered the women of Bengal.

“This anger will not remain limited to Sandeshkhali; the storm that brewed there will engulf the entire State,” the PM said.

Addressing an all-women’s rally named Nari Shakti Vandan Abhinandan at Barasat in North 24 Parganas, Modi criticised how corruption and abuse of women had become the hallmark of the Indian National Democratic Inclusive Alliance and its constituent TMC.

Targeting the INDIA leaders the PM said, “Realising that the National Democratic Alliance was coming back to power the leaders of INDIA alliance have lost their sleep and balance which is why they have started abusing Modi … the corrupt people of INDIA are saying that I speak about dynastic politics because I have no family of my own … but truth to be told the entire people of the country including those sitting in front of me are my family.”

The PM who on Wednesday inaugurated India’s first under water metro railway service — that runs beneath the Ganges connecting Howrah and Kolkata — besides launching projects worth more than `15,000 crore accused the INDIA ruled States of impeding all the Central schemes whereas his Government was trying its best to implement them so that India could be taken forward.

“The Governments led by the INDIA alliance are putting brakes on the schemes launched by the BJP Government … like the TMC Government refused to implement the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao programme, Ujjwala Gas scheme and drinking water projects,” he said adding how “during the TMC regime an eclipse had swallowed up Bengal.” This was the PM’s third rally in Bengal in a week’s time with the previous two being held at Arambagh and Krishangar on March 1 and 2.

Modi who later proceeded to Bihar asked the people to throw out the TMC from power in order to ensure development in the State.

Desperate to save its women’s vote bank the TMC was prompt to react even as the party took a two-pronged measure by announcing women-centric projects and by countering the Prime Minister’s allegations.

While Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee went on the X to announce her Government’s plans to increase the salaries of ICDS and Asha workers, party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh attacked Modi for shedding “crocodile tears” when the women of the BJP ruled States were crying.

The Chief Minister said, “Asha workers are our pride as they work very hard. They support us in all the bad times. I am happy to announce that their salaries have been increased by Rs 750 from the month of April.

The Anganwadi workers get Rs 8,250. Their salaries have been increased by Rs 750 (from April). The ICDS helpers get about Rs 6000. Their salaries have been increased by Rs 500 from April 1.”

Ghosh on the other hand countered the PM reminding him how “in Gujarat the BJP men had garlanded the rapists of Bilkis Bano,” adding, “the PM said no words for the victims of Hathras and Unnao … neither he had anything to say in favour of the women wrestlers who were complaining against sexual assault by one of the BJP MPs.”