The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Thursday hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s criticism of the West Bengal government, accusing him of deflecting attention from the BJP-led central government’s shortcomings.
In a post on social media platform X, the party posed five “counter-questions” in response to Modi’s remarks about crises allegedly gripping the state.
The TMC, challenging Modi to address ongoing issues in other parts of the country, particularly the prolonged unrest in Manipur wrote on its official X handle, “Before pointing fingers at Bengal, fix the mess in Manipur.”
Responding to Modi’s listing of five key problems in West Bengal, the TMC wrote, “Let’s talk facts,” and proceeded to turn each of the Prime Minister’s allegations back on the BJP.
On the issue of women’s safety, the TMC cited high-profile crime incidents in Uttar Pradesh, saying, “From Unnao to Hathras, BJP’s record is soaked in silence and shame.”
Addressing youth unrest and unemployment, it pointed to recent controversies, including exam paper leaks and the NEET scam, claiming a 45% unemployment rate as part of the “BJP’s national gift to students”.
The TMC was responding to the criticism by Modi over the teacher recruitment scam where the prime minister alleged the TMC government has “destroyed the future of thousands of teachers and their families” by allowing corruption and unfair hiring.
The party also criticised the BJP over corruption allegations, remarking, “Half your cabinet is out on bail. Irony died a slow death.”
It further accused the central government of withholding MGNREGA and Awas Yojana funds from Bengal out of “vendetta politics”.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi, speaking at a rally in Alipurduar, launched a sharp attack on the TMC government. He accused it of fostering a climate of violence, corruption, and lawlessness in West Bengal, and claimed that the people were now demanding a change from what he called the “Nirmam Sarkar” (cruel government).
“West Bengal is plagued by five major crises – violence and lawlessness, insecurity among women, growing unemployment among youth, rampant corruption, and a ruling party that prioritises self-interest over public welfare,” Modi said.
He cited incidents of communal unrest in Murshidabad and Malda as examples of what he called the TMC regime’s failure to protect its citizens.
According to Modi, these issues are driving a growing desire among West Bengal’s population for change and better governance. “People no longer want cruelty and corruption. They want development and peace,” he said.
