“I am not Modi, I don't tell lies,” is what CM Mamata Banerjee said at a poll rally in West Bengal on Wednesday, 3 April, in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's jibe calling her a “speed breaker” stalling development in the state.
Banerjee also referred to the prime minister as “expiry babu” in her speech and dared him to participate in a direct debate with her.
PM Modi had earlier called Mamata Banerjee a ‘speedbreaker’ who is stalling development in the state while addressing a rally in West Bengal’s Siliguri.
- PM Modi will hold rallies in West Bengal’s Siliguri and the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata
- West Bengal has 42 Lok Sabha seats, of which the BJP is targeting more than 20
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Modi Pans "Speedbreaker Didi" for WB's Plight, Mamata Warns of "Voter Strike"
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday, 3 April went for each other's jugular in battleground West Bengal, with the prime minister castigating "speedbreaker Didi" for stalling the state's development and the TMC chief hitting back warning he will face a "voter strike".
Modi, who kicked off his Lok Sabha campaign in West Bengal with back to back rallies in Siliguri and Kolkata, hit out at Banerjee over a host of issues including alleged lack of development, perpetuating family rule and for seeking proof of Indian Air Force’s retributive strike on terror camps in Pakistan to avenge Pulwama killing of 40 CRPF troopers.
Not the one who would take things lying down, the West Bengal chief minister mounted a blistering counteroffensive, mocking Modi's "56-inch chest" and claiming his government did nothing to save the lives of the CRPF jawans despite having "information" about the impending terror attack.
“We are nationalists not fascists.”Mamata Banejee, Chief Minister, West Bengal
At both the rallies, Modi slammed opposition parties for seeking proof of the damage done by the Indian Air Force in Pakistan's Balakot where terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed's training camps were targeted.
The prime minister also cautioned people against voting for the TMC which has "inherited the bomb and gun culture" from the Left.
Calling Banerjee a “speedbreaker” in the way of West Begal’s development, Modi said he was waiting for that to get out of the way so the state can march forward.
He alleged that Banerjee put hurdles in the way of implementation of the Centre's welfare schemes like Ayushman Bharat Yojana, PM Kisan Samman Yojana and the Real Estate Regulatory Authority Act (RERA).
"Didi wants poverty to stay so her politics of poverty may flourish. I want to eradicate. But Didi, like the Congress and the Left, think if poverty is gone how will they run their politics," he said.
Hardly had Modi concluded his speech at Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata when Banerjee took the microphone at a rally in north Bengal's Dinhata, calling the prime minister "expiry babu" (one whose time to go had come).
"I am not Modi, I don't tell lies," she declared, as she took on the prime minister over his "speedbreaker Didi" jibe.
Claiming that 12,000 farmers had ended their lives under Modi's prime ministership, she listed out various social welfare schemes undertaken by her government like 'Kanyashree' for girls, 'Yuvashree' for the young people.
Banerjee said West Bengal has been awarded by the Government of India for being the best state in implementing the 100-day minimum work guarantee scheme, the Centre's flagship rural employment programme.
“It’s not my claim but your government has given the award for the achievement.”Mamata Banerjee, Chief Minister, West Bengal
"PM should not lie. You claim to have a 56-inch chest and you are telling lies," she said, and dared Modi to a public debate.
Mamata Counters Modi's Barbs on Her, Describes Him as 'Expiry PM'
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday, 3 April responded to PM Modi’s ‘speedbreaker’ remark against her, describing him as "Expiry PM".
Banerjee gave point-by-point rebuttal of charges levelled by Modi at rallies at Siliguri and later at Kolkata’s Brigade ground during the day, to nail the “lies” spoken about performance of her government.
The war of words between Modi and Banerjee heated up the battle of Bengal in the ongoing general election.
Modi kick-started BJP's campaign in the state Wednesday launching onslaught on TMC supremo. Banerjee, whose party-men see her as a PM candidate, preponed start of poll campaign in the state with a rally at Dinhata in Cooch Behar district to coincide with PM Modi's public meeting on Wednesday.
Describing Modi as “Expiry Babu” and “Expiry PM”, Banerjee questioned what his government at the Centre has done for the welfare of people of the country.
She also dared him to participate in direct debate with her in television or in a public rally.
Claiming that her government in West Bengal has done a lot for the welfare of the people of the state, Banerjee told a public rally here that income of farmers in the state has increased three times under her rule.
"I am not Modi,I don't tell lies," she said, alleging that the PM has made false claims on performance of TMC government in West Bengal.
She claimed that 12,000 farmers committed suicide during Modi rule in the country.
PM Modi Flays Congress for Seeking to Dilute AFSPA at Birgade Ground Rally
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday, 3 April, hit out at the Congress for seeking to dilute the law that protects the armed forces in terror-affected areas and alleged the party is speaking the language of Pakistan.
Modi accused the Congress of bowing down to terrorism and alleged that the anti-Modi obsession of opposition leaders like Mamata Banerjee and Rahul Gandhi has actually turned them into leaders who are opposing the interests of the nation.
“The Congress in its manifesto, which is full of lies, has promised to remove the law that protects our forces in terror-affected areas. Removing this will actually help Pakistan. The Congress has always bowed down to terrorism.”Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Modi alleged that just like the dynastic politics of the Congress has ruined the nation in the last 60 years, the aunt-nephew (Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee) government has also ruined Bengal in the last seven years.
“The time has come to end the misrule of the TMC in Bengal,” he said.
I’m Not Modi, I Don’t Lie: Mamata Retorts at PM’s Development Jibe
“I am not Modi, I don't tell lies,” retorted Mamata Banerjee at a poll rally in West Bengal on Wednesday, 3 April after Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused her of acting as a “speed breaker,” who is stalling development in the state.
Banerjee also called referred to the prime minister as “expiry babu” in her speech and dared him to participate in a direct debate with her.
She also added that the income of the farmers increased three times in Bengal while 12,000 farmers committed suicide during Modi’s government.