Advertisement
In a dramatic display of contrasting political ideologies, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi held rallies within close proximity in the crucial north Bengal district of Cooch Behar. Amidst fiery speeches, Banerjee labeled the BJP worse than a snake, while PM Modi defended the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) while accusing the ruling Trinamool Congress of corruption.
The political heat soared as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi held rallies within a 30 km radius in Cooch Behar, with Banerjee delivering scathing remarks against the BJP and PM Modi defending the CAA while attacking the Trinamool Congress.
Banerjee did not hold back, comparing the BJP to a snake, saying, “You can trust a snake and even pet it, but not the BJP.” She raised concerns about the CAA, warning that under the act, those registering would be deemed Bangladeshi and lose basic rights.
“As soon as you submit your name for registration, you will be declared a Bangladeshi. This means you will not get the benefits under Lakhishree, Kanyashee, you will not be able to vote, you will not have citizenship rights, government rights. Think yourself whether it is good or bad,” Banerjee emphasized.
PM Modi, on the other hand, defended the CAA, asserting that it guarantees citizenship to those who have faith in Maa Bharati. He accused the Trinamool of spreading rumors and lies about the CAA, framing it as a distraction from corruption issues.
“I am saying remove corruption; the opposition is saying ‘save the corrupt.’ I will ensure the corrupt are punished, and the poor get justice. In the next five years, more stringent action will be taken against the corrupt,” PM Modi declared.
The Sandeshkhali issue, a focal point in the election, was also addressed. PM Modi claimed that while Trinamool was protecting the culprits, the BJP’s focus was on empowering women. “The culprits of Sandeshkhali will spend their lives in jail,” he asserted.
CAA-NRC Debate
Banerjee continued her attack on the CAA, calling it a trap to turn legal citizens into foreigners. She warned against the implementation of CAA and NRC in West Bengal, stating, “If you apply, you will be designated as foreigners.”
The BJP, eyeing 25 of West Bengal’s 42 Lok Sabha seats, has re-nominated junior home minister Nisith Pramanik from Cooch Behar. In response, Banerjee claimed that Pramanik was a Trinamool reject, emphasizing the party’s stance against corruption and its rejection of the CAA and NRC.
Conclusion
The dueling rallies in Cooch Behar highlighted the intense political battleground of West Bengal, with Banerjee and PM Modi fiercely defending their positions on the CAA, corruption, and the future of the state.
