Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over poll violence, saying elections in Jammu and Kashmir were more peaceful than in her state.
The PM Modi, in an interview with News18 said most worrisomewas the fact that people who believe in democracy and were “neutral”, weremaintaining silence over the violence in Bengal. “They are forgiving everythingelse in their hatred for me and this will only create problems for thecountry,” the Prime Minister said.
A war of words ensued between the Bharatiya Janata Party andTrinamool Congress a day after violence and arson marred BJP president AmitShah’s road show in Kolkata. While Trinamool Congress sought a meeting with theElection Commission on the issue, a Bharatiya Janata Party delegation urged thepoll panel to bar West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee from campaigningin the state and alleged that “constitutional machinery” hascollapsed there.
Modi, while equating the situation in Bengal with that inJammu and Kashmir, said elections were more peaceful in the latter. “During thepanchayat elections in Kashmir, violence was not reported from even one pollingbooth. But during the same time, several people were killed during panchayatpolls in Bengal; the houses of those who won were burnt down and they wereforced to flee to Jharkhand and other states. Their only fault was that theywon polls.”
“The BJP, Left and even the Congress raised the issue butthose who consider themselves neutral maintained silence, thus emboldening suchforces. Even the chopper of a BJP chief minister is not allowed to land inBengal; neither are our rallies allowed in the state. This is because thegovernment, especially Mamata Banerjee, is scared of neither the BJP, the Leftnor the Congress,” the PM Modi said.