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PM Modi addressed the gathering via video conferencing after his helicopter was prevented from landing at Taherpur helipad due to poor visibility, forcing him to return to Kolkata airport, ANI reported.
Drawing comparisons with Bihar, the Prime Minister said the country now wants rapid development and cited the electoral performance of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance in the state.
“Today the country wants rapid development. Bihar has once again given a huge mandate for development to the NDA government. Bihar has rejected the ‘Jungle Raj’ rule in a loud voice,” Modi was quoted as saying by ANI. He said that BJP-NDA has improved its performance in Bihar even after 20 years and said the same model is needed in West Bengal also.
The Prime Minister said, “Now we have to get rid of ‘Jungle Raj’ in West Bengal.”
Taking aim at TMC, Modi said political opposition was acceptable but accused the ruling party of stalling the state’s progress.
According to ANI, he said, “TMC wants to oppose BJP. Let them oppose us fiercely. You can oppose Modi, but do not hinder the development of West Bengal. Do not make the people of Bengal unhappy or deprive them of their rights.”
Advocating the BJP’s “double engine government” where the same party rules both the Center and the state, Modi said such a model would help restore the “lost glory” of West Bengal.
He said, “We want a double engine government of BJP in Bengal. Even today, development projects worth crores of rupees are stalled in the state.”
The Prime Minister also accused the Trinamool Congress of protecting infiltrators in the state and criticized the party’s opposition to the Special Intensive Vetting (SIR) exercise.
As per ANI report, Modi alleged, “In Bengal, Trinamool Congress raises slogans of ‘Go back Modi’ instead of ‘Go back infiltrators’. Trinamool Congress is opposing SIR to protect infiltrators.”
Highlighting the Centre’s focus on inclusive growth, Modi said his government’s efforts are aimed at developing areas of West Bengal that have been deprived for a long time.
During the event, the Prime Minister also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of several infrastructure projects worth about ₹3,200 crore, ANI said.
These include 66.7 km long four-laning of Barajaguli-Krishnanagar section of National Highway-34 and four-laning of Barasat-Barajaguli section of NH-34, which aims to improve connectivity between Kolkata and Siliguri.