Modi attacks Mamata govt, says it throttled democracy

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today launched a no-holds-barred attack against the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal, charging it with "throttling democracy" and running a "syndicate raj" without whose approval nothing moves.

Addressing a 'Kisan Kalyan' rally here, the prime minister also reached out to farmers and said his government was working to double their incomes by 2022.

The people of West Bengal will get freedom from the "misrule" of the Trinamool Congress within a few months, Modi told the gathering at the farmers' welfare rally in an apparent reference to the coming general elections.

The rally was marred by a makeshift tent collapsing at the venue, injuring at least 22 people, police officials said.

Mounting an all out attack against the TMC government, Modi said nothing can be achieved without approval of the "syndicate" in West Bengal.

"The political syndicate rules in the land of 'Vande Mataram' and 'Jana-Gana-Mana'," he said, adding that the syndicate pursued appeasement and vote bank politics.

The TMC government, he added, is operating syndicates to run chit funds, take away the benefits of the farmers and unleash atrocities on the poor.

Those who think they can be in power by unleashing violence should read the "writing on the wall", the prime minister said.

"The people of Bengal had fought hard against the misrule of the Left Front. It took some time. Within a few months, the people of Bengal will get freedom from the misrule of the TMC. People are just waiting for an opportunity," Modi said at the farmers' rally.

"We all know the condition of West Bengal under the present regime. Those who spoke of Maa, Mati, Manush (the TMC slogan) have been completely exposed. They are running syndicates. Democracy is being throttled and brutalized in the state."
Referring to the TMC posters with photographs of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee around the rally venue, Modi said, "Even the TMC cannot deny our achievements. They have put up posters of didi (Mamata) with folded hands welcoming the prime minister."