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Kolkata: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday accused illegal immigration of altering West Bengal’s demographics and fueling unrest, escalating his criticism of the state’s Trinamool Congress (TMC) government as state elections approach.
Addressing a rally in Malda district, Modi vowed “big action” against infiltrators should the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) win the upcoming assembly polls.
Demographic Shifts and Rising Unrest
The Prime Minister linked illegal immigration to social tensions in West Bengal.
“Infiltration is a big challenge for Bengal… Demography is losing its balance. Differences can be noticed in the language in some areas. With the rise in the population of infiltrators, there has been an increase in riots in areas such as Malda and Murshidabad,” Modi stated.
He questioned the TMC’s stance on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), asking, “will the TMC allow the Matua community to get citizenship? Will they ever do it till the TMC government is there? Will they ever do it?” Modi questioned.
However, Modi reassured the Matua community-a significant quasi-religious group largely comprised of Dalit people who migrated to India from erstwhile East Pakistan around the time of Partition and for roughly two decades afterwards-that they would not face repercussions.
“people who have taken refuge in India to save themselves from persecution, the Matua community, have no reason to fear. The Constitution has given them rights. The Constitution has given them the rights. Modi has given the refugees full protection through CAA,” he affirmed.
Matua community members are categorized as Scheduled Caste (SC) and wield influence over approximately 74 of Bengal’s 294 assembly seats, according to surveys conducted by both the TMC and BJP.
The prime Minister also accused the TMC government of obstructing welfare programs intended for the poor and hindering the delivery of central government benefits. “Should Bengal receive the benefits of schemes like free electricity or not?” he asked the crowd. “The real welfare of the people of Bengal will happen only when there is no obstructive TMC government here, but a pro-people BJP government instead.”
He further criticized the government regarding corruption and women’s safety, asserting that a BJP government is necessary to restore Bengal to its former prominence. Modi predicted the end of the TMC’s “thuggery” and “politics of threatening and intimidating the poor,” stating that Bengal, surrounded by BJP-ruled states, is poised for change.
“Bengal is surrounded on all sides by BJP governments that stand for good governance. Now it is indeed time for good governance in Bengal too,” he said.
The TMC refuted Modi’s allegations, maintaining that the people of the state firmly support Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. “He made some vague statements and some spicy slogans. No matter what they say about change, mamata Banerjee will come back to power. His call for poriborton (change) will come to a halt as the TMC will come back to power,” Kunal Ghosh, a TMC leader, told reporters.
Earlier in the day,modi also virtually inaugurated four Amrit Bharat Express trains connecting New Jalpaiguri with Nagercoil and Tiruchirappalli,and Alipurduar with SMVT
