NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the ruling All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) while addressing a mega rally at Kolkata’s Brigade Parade Ground, accusing the state government of “protecting rapists”, undermining constitutional institutions and insulting President Droupadi Murmu.Bringing up Sandeshkhali and the brutality faced by a woman at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, PM said, “Here, the insensitive government openly protects rapists and makes every effort to shield criminals. The images from Sandeshkhali and the attitude of the TMC, as well as the brutality faced by that daughter at RG Kar Hospital, have not been forgotten by the people of Bengal. The way the TMC was seen openly standing with the accused has not been forgotten. It is the result of this mindset that crimes such as acid attacks against women are happening in large numbers in West Bengal today…I assure the mothers and sisters of Bengal that if you bless the BJP, women will be safe under a BJP government and criminals will be in jail. This is Modi’s guarantee.”The Prime Minister also accused the TMC government of disrespecting the President during her recent visit to north Bengal. “The TMC has not just insulted the President, but it has insulted the country’s tribals, the people of this country and the Constitution. The TMC has crossed all limits by insulting President Droupadi Murmu,” Modi said. He said Murmu had travelled to the state to participate in a Santhal tribal festival, but alleged that the programme was mishandled by the state administration. “Just a few days ago, the President of our country, the esteemed daughter of the Adivasi community, Honourable Droupadi Murmu Ji, came to Bengal. She was to participate in the sacred festival of the Santhal Adivasi tradition, but this ruthless government, steeped in arrogance, not only boycotted that programme but handed it over entirely to utter chaos,” he said. “Because a daughter of the Adivasi community holds such a high position, the TMC folks could not accept her honour,” PM Modi further alleged. Stepping up his attack ahead of the assembly elections, PM Modi also accused the TMC of opposing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls to protect “infiltrators”. “The TMC is opposing SIR so that infiltrators can be protected,” he said. Claiming that infiltration had altered the demographic profile of several areas in the state, he said, “Due to unchecked infiltration, the demography of several areas of West Bengal has changed. The TMC is deliberately making Hindus a minority in many areas.” PM further alleged that the ruling party opposed citizenship for Hindu refugees for political reasons. “The TMC opposes granting citizenship to Hindu refugees because they do not consider them their vote bank,” he claimed. He also accused the TMC of attacking constitutional institutions, saying it was shameful that the party was targeting bodies such as the Election Commission of India.
