Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday made a strong Hindutva pitch at the hustings attacking Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for deriding those who wear saffron robes, and sport tilak or chotis (ponytails).
Modi who was addressing a rally at Joynagar in South 24 Parganas aconstituency --- with a healthy population of minority Muslims --- roundly invoked Hindutva saying, “Earlier she was irritated by chants of Jai Shri Ram and was loath to allow immersion of idols during Durga Pujas … but now she has become so intolerant towards those who wear saffron attire or sport tilak and ponytail that she even call them rakshasas … the people are watching this.”
Referring to the Chief Minister’s criticism of his recent visit toJasoreshwari Kali Temple in Jessore and Matua headquarters at Orakandiin Bangladesh he said “is visiting a Kali Temple or the temple ofHarichand Thakur a crime … but here the Chief Minister is abusing mefor visiting these temples too.”
Speaking about her repeated personal attacks and even use of slangswhile referring to him the Prime Minister said, “I understand that shehas a grudge against me which is why she keeps on abusing merepeatedly … I don’t mind that but I will not allow her to insult theheritage of Bengal … I will not allow her to denigrate the basicvalues upheld by the likes of Baba Saheb Ambedkar and enshrined in theConstitution of India.”
The Prime Minister was apparently referring to the repeated attack byChief Minister of outsiders particularly the anti-social elements fromBihar and UP who she alleged had infiltrated Bengal to vitiate theelectoral process. “After taking oath and sitting on a constitutionalpost you cannot abuse the citizens of any other state … it isunconstitutional,” he said.
Even on Thursday she told the media at Nandigram how “hundreds ofcriminals have been brought in by the BJP from UP and Bihar and otherStates to rig the elections and do crime here.”
Reiterating that the BJP would win more than 200 seats Modi said thatinitial trends of polling showed that TMC was going out of power.“Didi you are losing the elections … TMC is gone.”
Taking a dig at the Chief Minister her said “Didi always says cool,cool, cool, but Trinamool is not cool … it is a shool (trident)because she has killed the State’s democracy with shool”.
