PM Modi lies about Sandeshkhali, but stays silent on assault allegations against governor: Mamata Banerjee

Addressing an election rally in Amdanga, Banerjee wondered why Modi was not asking Bose to resign despite the serious allegations against him.

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee (Photo: TV9 Network)

New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of “peddling lies” over the Sandeshkhali incident and maintaining a deafening silence over allegations of attack on Governor CV Ananda Bose.

Addressing an election rally in Amdanga, Banerjee wondered why Modi was not asking Bose to resign despite the serious allegations against him. “The Prime Minister should be ashamed that the BJP conspiracy over Sandeshkhali has become public,” she said, referring to an alleged video in which a local BJP leader admitted to organizing protests.

Banerjee also criticized the Centre’s inaction against the governor, saying it revealed the BJP’s “true anti-woman character”. “I am facing a constitutional crisis. If I have to visit Raj Bhavan, what should I do? I find myself in a dilemma,” she said, saying women are now afraid to go to the governor’s residence.

The TMC chief accused Modi of polarizing voters along religious lines and spreading lies about reservation quotas. “He keeps saying that we will give reservations to Muslims, removing quotas for SCs and STs. He is a habitual liar who only wants polarization along religious lines,” she said.

Banerjee also alleged that the Center was withholding MGNREGA funds from Bengal, thereby depriving 69 lakh poor workers of their wages. “But we paid for them with state coffers,” she said.

In a veiled attack on BJP candidate Arjun Singh, Banerjee urged voters to reject “muscle men” and those who would create “apprehensions about riots”.

Speaking at another rally in Amta, Banerjee criticized the BJP’s lack of understanding towards Bengali culture. “They gifted Modi a painting of Rabindranath Tagore upside down at his rally in Barrackpore. This shows how the BJP will never be able to understand the sentiment of the people of the state,” she said.

“I have seen Rajiv Gandhi, Deve Gowda, Manmohan Singh and Atal Bihari Vajpayee as prime ministers. But I have not seen a Prime Minister like Modi. He should get 120 out of 100 for lying,” she said.
Banerjee said she could be killed, “but I believe in people and I’m not afraid to fight.”