Mamata Banerjee Hits Back at PM Modi Over Murshidabad Remarks, Challenges BJP to Early Elections
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched a fierce counterattack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, accusing him of spreading lies and trying to divide the country for political gain. Her remarks came after the Prime Minister criticised the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government’s handling of recent violence in Murshidabad during a rally in Alipurduar.
Reacting strongly, Banerjee said Modi’s statements were not just disappointing but shocking, especially at a time when the Opposition is backing the government in national matters like Operation Sindoor—a military response against terrorism.
“What the Prime Minister said today has deeply saddened us. While the Opposition is standing with the country, he’s using this moment to attack us politically,” Banerjee said. She claimed that a Union minister had even remarked during the event that the BJP would carry out an "Operation Bengal" similar to Operation Sindoor.
“I challenge them—if they have the courage, go for elections tomorrow. We are ready, and Bengal is ready,” Banerjee said defiantly.
Referring to the BJP as the "Jumla Party," she accused the Prime Minister of distorting facts for political mileage. “You’re accusing the government and blaming the Opposition when we are united against terrorism. You’re turning this into a political stunt. You loot the country and scoot—this is garbage politics,” she said.
Banerjee also pointed out that TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, a member of the all-party delegation involved in Operation Sindoor discussions, had been consistently speaking out against terrorism. “Despite our support in national matters, the PM is targeting our state. He’s acting more like a BJP leader than a Prime Minister,” she said.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi, addressing a BJP rally in Alipurduar, launched a blistering attack on the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government. He accused the state administration of misgovernance, corruption, and failing the people of Bengal.
“West Bengal is facing a crisis of violence and lawlessness. Women are unsafe, unemployment among youth is rising, and public trust in the system is eroding,” Modi said. “The ruling party’s selfish politics have robbed the poor of their rights.”
The Prime Minister also took aim at the state's education system, pointing to the teacher recruitment scam as a sign of deep-rooted corruption. “The TMC government has destroyed the future of thousands of teachers and left their families in despair. The entire education system in Bengal is being ruined,” he said.
As tensions rise between the Centre and the West Bengal government, the exchange marks another sharp escalation in the ongoing political battle ahead of upcoming elections.