Kolkata, India – Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee engaged in a heated exchange on Sunday, with Modi accusing Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress (TMC) party of shielding corrupt leaders. The Prime Minister alleged that the TMC was obstructing Central agencies and hindering their investigative efforts to protect corrupt officials.
The altercation stemmed from an incident where a National Investigation Agency (NIA) team was violently attacked by a mob in Naruabila village in Bhupatinagar, East Midnapore, during a midnight operation. The NIA was investigating a blast in 2022 that resulted in three fatalities. This incident echoed a previous attack on Enforcement Directorate officials in Sandeshkhali, North 24 Parganas, while conducting a raid related to a ration distribution scandal involving suspended TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh.
During an election rally in Jalpaiguri, West Bengal, Modi accused the TMC of attempting to undermine the legal system and constitution by attacking Central agencies. He also claimed that the TMC, along with the Left and Congress parties, had formed the INDI Alliance to shield corrupt leaders within their ranks.
In response, Banerjee pushed back by insinuating that communal tensions could escalate during the upcoming Ram Navami festival on April 17, warning of potential violence. She sarcastically remarked that the NIA would be tasked with investigating even minor incidents, such as fireworks during the festival. This criticism was accompanied by a demand for the central government to disclose the findings of corruption inquiries in Bengal and address the fund allocation to the state.
Additionally, Banerjee highlighted a delayed response from the Election Commission regarding permission to rebuild homes destroyed by a recent storm in Jalpaiguri. The Chief Minister’s remarks sparked a rebuttal from BJP Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, who accused her of stoking tensions ahead of Ram Navami by making divisive statements.
Adhikari urged people to not be swayed by Banerjee’s rhetoric, citing past instances where he believed she had incited unrest. The political sparring between the ruling TMC and opposition BJP in West Bengal continues to intensify as the state heads towards crucial election cycles.