People want "Asol Poribirtan," says PM Modi,He is selling India- Mamta

Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off his West Bengal assembly poll campaign on Sunday by lashing out against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of backstabbing the people of the state. Addressing his first mega campaign rally at Kolkata's iconic Brigade Parade Ground, PM Modi said  the Mamata Banerjee government had deprived common people, including farmers, educated youths and the poor of the Centre's beneficiary schemes and projects.

PM Modi said the state's mothers and women were being attacked and received only 'nirmamta'. "You are well aware of the condition of 'Maa, Manush, Maati'. Mothers are being attacked on streets and in their houses. "I have known Didi for several years but this is not the Didi who stood up against the Left Front govt. Her remote control is elsewhere. We are outsiders, they say, are the founders of Congress’ not outsiders? Are Marx, Lenin, Mao not outsiders? But our leader was Syama Prasad Mookerjee so Bengal is in BJP’s DNA. We are indebted to Bengal", PM Modi said.

PM Modi said that I have come here to make you believe in 'Asol Poribortan', believe in Bengal's development, in change of Bengal's situation, in increasing investment and industries in Bengal, and in the reconstruction of Bengal. Modi was welcomed by actor Mithun Chakraborty, who joined the BJP just ahead of the rally, and party leader Dilip Ghosh. Lauding the huge turnout at the rally, the Prime Minister said it looks like today is May 2 (the day election results will be announced).

Mithun Chakraborty quit the Trinamool within two years of his Rajya Sabha nomination after he was named in the Saradha chit fund case. He was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate on Rs1.2 crore he had received from the group as fee for becoming brand ambassador of a TV news channel the Saradha group financed.He returned the money and quit the Rajya Sabha as well as the Trinamool Congress pleading poor health.

On the other hand,  when PM Modi was in Kolkata, chief minister Mamata Banerjee held a 'padyatra' from Darjeeling Thousands of supporters holding cardboard replicas of LPG cylinders participated at the 'yatra', which was also attended by TMC minister Chandrima Bhattacharya, and party MPs Mimi Chakraborty and Nusrat Jahan.

Taking a swipe at Narendra Modi over his 'Sonar Bangla' promise, Mamata Banerjee called him a "liar", saying the PM had come to sell dreams in Bengal at a time when fuel prices were rising steeply and banks were being sold."He is talking about sonar bangla. But what about sonar India? LPG prices are rising, Modi's tolabaaji is on the rise too...He sold Delhi. From Air India to BSNL, he is selling public assets too," Banerjee after holding a roadshow in Siliguri. Raking up the issue of Covid-19 vaccination certificates carrying a photograph of Modi, Mamata said, "During Covid, he could not come. I was on the streets. Today, his face is on the Covid vaccine certificates. It is our scientists who have worked hard."