Time to oust TMC: Modi

Thakurnagar/Durgapur: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday mounted a no-holds-barred attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing her of "killing" the aspirations of the middle class and claiming her party TMC was known for "Triple T--Trinamool Tolabaji Tax", a reference to organised extortion. Virtually kicking off his Lok Sabha election campaign on Banerjee's turf, Modi addressed two public events where he unleashed a bilious assault on the TMC supremo and made a pitch for the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill to which the feisty West Bengal leader is strongly opposed.

“The TMC is killing people's aspirations, but the Centre will fulfil their (people's) dreams. The TMC doesn't take interest in initiating development projects where there is no share for the syndicate... where there is no ‘malai’ (cream),” he told a rally in Durgapur. Taking a swipe at the TMC over alleged corruption, Modi said West Bengal's ruling party was known for “Triple T--Trinamool Tolabaji Tax”. In local parlance, ‘tolabaji’ is roughly understood as an act of organised extortion. 

Pleased with the impressive turnout at the Durgapur rally, Modi said, “I can clearly see that Bengal will bring in change. Their (the TMC government's) departure is assured. Your love for us is making them lose their sleep.” Modi's sharp criticism of Banerjee is seen as an attempt by the BJP to expand its base in the state where the TMC boss's writ runs large.

Attacking Banerjee over her supporters’ strong arm tactics, the Prime Minister alleged the TMC leader was treading the path of the previous Communist dispensation despite being a victim of its violent brand of politics. “Sitting in Delhi I thought that since Didi (Mamata) had suffered so much at the hands of the Left, she would never take that route. Now I am surprised as to why such things are happening in Bengal. " Modi said. The firebrand West Bengal leader had in 2011 ended the 34-year uninterrupted rule of the Left Front after a prolonged fight during which she was physically assaulted several times. 

“The way a party (TMC) has given a free run to its workers to indulge in violence, and the way the government officials behave, mark my words that their departure is assured...people will not tolerate this for long,” Modi said. Worry about winning LS seatsbefore victory in Bengal: Mamata
Banerjee hit right back, asking Modi and Singh to worry about winning their respective Lok Sabha seats before dreaming of a victory in West Bengal. She branded the BJP leaders as “outsiders” who had “zero idea” about the culture and customs of the state.