Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a sharp attack on the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal on Saturday, accusing it of failing to curb illegal infiltration and asserting that only a Bharatiya Janata Party-led government could effectively address the issue.

Addressing a public rally in Malda ahead of the upcoming state elections, Modi also charged the state administration with widespread corruption, alleging that it had obstructed the implementation of central welfare schemes, and failed to ensure safety of women in the state.

Flagging infiltration as a major challenge facing West Bengal, PM Modi said: “There is a big challenge of infiltration in front of Bengal. Even developed countries push back infiltrators. It is important for Bengal to do the same, but this is not possible as long as the TMC government is in power.”

The PM charged that instead of taking stringent action against infiltration, the ruling TMC has been converting the infiltrators into voters for political gain.

“The TMC will never push back infiltrators. Only a BJP government can do that,” he stated. Linking infiltration to rising violence in the state, Modi said districts such as Malda and Murshidabad had witnessed increasing unrest due to the growing number of illegal entrants.

“With the increase in infiltration, violence is also increasing in different districts,” he said, assuring that “strict action will be taken against infiltrators and infiltration once the BJP comes to power in Bengal.”

PM Modi also targeted the Mamata government of West Bengal on the issue of corruption and lack of conviction to implement various welfare schemes of the central government for the poor, downtrodden and the marginalised classes including women.

He accused the TMC of corruption in flood control and embankment projects. “Malda is suffering because of TMC corruption. Every year, houses are washed away by rivers. People keep pleading for embankments, but the government abandons them. CAG reports show that embankment funds were sent 40 times to TMC’s own people who did not need them, while those in distress got nothing,” Modi claimed.

Despite the Centre rolling out multiple welfare schemes for the poor, the people of West Bengal were being deprived of their rightful benefits because of what he termed the “cruel and ruthless” attitude of the state government. “Everyone should have a pucca house, tap water, free rations. The Centre has launched these schemes for the poor, and I want the people of Bengal to benefit from them. You have a right to these benefits, but they are not reaching you,” he said.

Accusing the ruling party of siphoning off funds, he added, “The TMC government is merciless. The money sent by the Centre for the poor is looted by TMC leaders. They are enemies of Bengal’s poor and are only filling their own coffers.” Referring to healthcare, the Prime Minister said West Bengal was the only state that had not allowed the Ayushman Bharat scheme to be implemented.

“I want the poor of Bengal to get free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh like the rest of the country. But Bengal has blocked the Ayushman scheme,” he said. The Prime Minister also accused the state government of obstructing the Centre’s free electricity and rooftop solar schemes. PM Modi also raised questions on the poor track record of the West Bengal government on women safety, citing the harassment meted out by a woman journalist recently.

“Yesterday, I saw how a woman journalist was harassed. Such indecency. Under TMC rule, women are not safe even in schools and colleges. The situation is so cruel that women’s voices are not heard and victims are forced to approach courts,” he said, adding that change was possible through the ballot. “Your one vote can bring back Bengal’s old glory. TMC’s hooliganism will not last long,” he said asking people to vote for change in the upcoming election to West Bengal Assembly.

Coming close on the heels of union Home Minister’s visit to West Bengal, the Prime Minister’s programme in West Bengal on Saturday has set the tone for the upcoming elections and defined the key issues that the saffron party is going to focus on against the TMC regime in the state as the campaign heats up.