Kolkata, February 23 In a direct appeal to West Bengal voters in the weeks leading up to the assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday expressed his "deep concern" and "disappointment" regarding the current state of affairs under Mamata Banerjee's government and vowed to "transform" the state.
In a letter written in Bengali, Modi acknowledged that a change in government is "inevitable," but emphasized that voters can choose a path that aligns the state with the rapid development seen elsewhere in the country.
TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh dismissed Modi's letter as "mere theatrics" ahead of the elections, questioning why the Prime Minister has stopped funding for West Bengal if he is so concerned about the state's condition.
In the letter, Modi addressed issues ranging from governance and appeasement politics to fake voters, employment shortages, and women's safety.
The PM also promised citizenship to refugees through the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and pledged to prevent infiltration across state borders as part of his pre-election promises.
"Bengal used to be a leader in both finance and industry. It pains me to see its current state. It's impossible to describe the irreversible damage caused by six decades of misgovernance and appeasement," Modi said.
"While young people are struggling to find employment, women in West Bengal are fearful due to a lack of security," he added.
Modi referenced prominent figures like Swami Vivekananda, Rishi Aurobindo, Subhas Chandra Bose, Rabindranath Tagore, and Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, expressing regret over the "chaos" in West Bengal.
"West Bengal, envisioned by iconic figures like Vivekananda and Aurobindo, is now plagued by vote bank politics and violence. The state's son, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, once called 'Sonar Bangla', is now marred by infiltration and the mistreatment of women. Fake voters dominate Tagore's 'Sonar Bangla'," Modi wrote.
"The entire country is worried about the chaos in West Bengal," the PM stated.
Modi asserted that the time has come to address the "silent suffering" and that change is now inevitable in Bengal.
"How long should we continue to suffer in silence? Change is inevitable. The standard of living has improved significantly in other states. The poor have hope again. Ayushman Bharat provides healthcare, new employment opportunities, and women's safety is ensured. Bengal should also benefit from this growth and development," Modi said.
Modi quoted Tagore's "Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high" to emphasize his commitment to "eliminating corruption and misgovernance" and promised to ensure women's safety, curtail migration for work, and restore the state's former glory.
"We will grant citizenship to refugee brothers and sisters who found refuge here through the CAA, and we will restore the rule of law by stopping infiltration," Modi said.
This letter coincided with the Bengal BJP's ongoing "Griha Sampark Abhiyan" (house-to-house outreach campaign), during which party leaders will distribute Modi's message to households.
TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh dismissed Modi's letter as mere "theatrics" ahead of the upcoming polls.
"If the PM is so concerned about 'Sonar Bangla', why has he stopped funding for 100-day work projects for the people of Bengal? Why has the Centre withheld funds for rural housing and village roads, which the Mamata Banerjee government is currently sponsoring? Bengal's rightful dues from the Union government currently stand at a staggering Rs 1.96 lakh crore," he said.
"He can say whatever he wants after releasing the funds," Ghosh added.
"The PM conveniently forgets that despite these challenges, central government data shows that Bengal continues to perform exceptionally well in multiple social welfare indicators," he added.
Senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury questioned the timing of Modi's letter.
"Why did the PM suddenly remember West Bengal right before the elections? We see him touring the world all year round, but he rarely visits or talks about Bengal. By writing such letters, he is exposing the brand of politics followed by the BJP," Chowdhury said.
The TMC highlighted media reports of alleged sexual assault on a 12-year-old school student in Kendrapara, Odisha, over two years by teachers and non-teaching staff, stating, "Those who claim to care about women's safety cannot ensure the safety of students in schools under BJP rule."
"Criminals are dominating states under the BJP's rule, and complaints against them before school principals often go unaddressed," the party wrote on X.
"This incident exposes the miserable state of women's safety under BJP rule. We condemn this government," it added.