PM Modi should get ‘tight slap’ of democracy: Mamata Banerjee

Ranibandh/Raghunathpur: “Narendra Modi should get a tight slap of democracy,” a furious TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee said Tuesday, hitting back at the Prime Minister for alleging repeatedly that her government is run by extortionist syndicates.

She also questioned the BJP’s nationalistic and patriotic claims, saying it was an “RSS man” who killed Mahatma Gandhi.

“I do not bow my head in politics. When Modi alleges that Trinamul Congress is a party of syndicates...Its government is run by syndicates, I feel he should get a tight slap of democracy (be defeated in election),” she said at a public meeting at Raghunathpur in Purulia.

Calling Modi a Prime Minister who is “known for telling lies”, Ms Banerjee said during his visits to West Bengal for election he says her government does not allow Durga Puja and other Hindu rituals to be performed. “Do you believe those allegations?” she asked.

Joining issue with the Prime Minister over his claim that she does not allow people to chant “Jai Sri Ram” and throw those who do behind bars, she said, “I will not join them (the BJP) in shouting their slogan. I will rather say Jai Hind.”

At another rally at Ranibandh in Bankura Ms Banerjee said, “Our slogan is Jai Hind, Bande Mataram, Maa Mati Manush Jindabad and Jai Jawan; Jai Kishan. But we do not give such slogans (read: Jai Shree Ram). During Durga Puja, we chat Jai Maa Durga when drums are beaten. During Ganesh Chaturthi we certainly chant Ganpati Bappa Morya.”

She added, “But you never follow any god or goddess. You play politics with God and religion. You trigger riots also. So do not give a single vote to this riotist Narendra Modi.”

The Trinamul chief claimed that the BJP only instigated riots in the last five years instead of undertaking any development work.

She questioned BJP’s claim of patriotism. “I do not know who Gandhiji’s killers were. But we know the name of Nathuram Godse, an RSS man. When you speak of patriotism and serving the nation can you tell us who was he? the West Bengal chief minister asked.

“Did you fight for the country’s independence? You (the BJP) had supported the British. Don’t you feel ashamed?” Ms Banerjee said.

Speaking in the same vein at Barjora, also in Bankura district, Ms Banerjee said, “They (the BJP) don’t revere Gandhiji and Netaji as leaders of the nation .... Modi should not sermonise us”.

A combative Banerjee alleged that BJP starts doing politics over Lord Ram during elections. She said the party could not build even a small Ram temple in last five years.

The TMC supremo asserted Mr Modi will not get a second term in office as he failed to bring in “acche din”.

Instead, more than 12,000 farmers committed suicide. However, she claimed, while there was distress everywhere, income of those living in West Bengal went up three-fold.

The chief minister accused the BJP of orchestrating riots between “Hindus and Muslims, Muslims and Christians and Muslims and adivasis” during the last five years.

“I don’t tolerate rioters — both Hindu and Muslim. We want peace not unrest. We (TMC) do not want Modi to stay in power. We will help in government formation in Delhi,” she added.

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