In Katwa, West Bengal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised to accelerate the provision of citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) for the Matua, Namasudra, and other refugee communities if the BJP came to power in West Bengal, while warning "infiltrators" to "pack up their bags".
Addressing a rally in Katwa, Purba Bardhaman district, Modi emphasized that the Matua and Namasudra communities, a politically influential refugee bloc concentrated in South Bengal, would have their future protected not by the ruling Trinamool Congress, but by the Constitution and the CAA.
"I have come to give a guarantee to the Matua, Namasudra, and all refugee families in West Bengal. You are here because of India's Constitution, not because of any TMC leader," Modi said.
"Once the BJP government is formed, we will expedite the process of granting citizenship to refugee families under the CAA," he added.
This statement came a day after the West Bengal BJP promised "citizenship and rehabilitation for all Hindu refugees" in its manifesto, a message aimed squarely at Matua and Namasudra voters, many of whom have complained about large-scale deletions from electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
In a state where refugee identity and citizenship have been politically contentious for decades, Modi attempted to frame the issue as a referendum on trust, accusing the TMC of spreading fear among refugee families while failing to protect their interests.
However, the prime minister also paired this promise with a sharper attack on alleged illegal immigration.
"The BJP government will free West Bengal from this challenge. Whoever has infiltrated India will be driven out," Modi said.
"I am asking every infiltrator to leave. It is time to go," he said, eliciting cheers from the crowd.
He also warned that those who had "facilitated" the infiltration would face action.
"Those who helped infiltration, created fake documents, and facilitated illegal immigrants will also be held accountable," Modi said, referring to the TMC.
These remarks were aimed at strengthening the BJP's long-standing campaign that the TMC has patronized illegal immigration for electoral gains.
Modi also framed the 2026 assembly election as a vote against what he called the "fear" created by 15 years of TMC rule.
"This election is to eradicate this TMC's fear. We need to create a West Bengal free from TMC's fear and filled with BJP's trust. This will be our first step towards a developed West Bengal," the prime minister added.
Seeking to match and surpass the TMC's welfare plank, Modi repeatedly referred to the BJP's "three guarantees" for women, youth, and government employees.
"We have given three major guarantees to the sisters, youth, and government employees of West Bengal, and we have also explained how these promises will be fulfilled," he said.
For women, the BJP has promised a monthly allowance of Rs 3,000.
"West Bengal's sisters and daughters will be able to come and go anytime, anywhere. The BJP government means complete assurance of women's safety. This is the biggest difference between the ruthless TMC government and a BJP government," Modi said.
For unemployed youth, Modi promised age relaxation in government recruitment for those who had crossed the age limit due to what he described as the TMC's "misgovernance," along with filling vacant positions.
He also promised the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission for state government employees.
The prime minister also addressed the issue of corruption, promising a "white paper" on corruption involving TMC ministers, MLAs, and syndicates.
"The BJP government will bring a white paper and give a legal account of the corruption of TMC's MLAs, ministers, and syndicates. It will place the full account of 15 years of this government before the people," he said.
"The BJP will not allow any scheme to be discontinued. The BJP will only shut down the corrupt shops and stop the TMC's looting," Modi said, accusing the ruling party of falsely claiming that welfare schemes would be discontinued if the BJP came to power.
The prime minister also addressed the potato farmers' crisis.
"TMC's deceit has ruined potato farmers. They promised to buy potatoes at MSP, but today, farmers' potatoes are rotting. Every farmer is in the same situation," he said.
Promising what he called the "double benefit" of a double-engine government, Modi said that West Bengal's farmers would receive Rs 9,000 annually under the PM-Kisan scheme – Rs 6,000 from the Centre and an additional Rs 3,000 from a BJP government in the state.
This welfare-heavy pitch culminated in a promise to immediately implement Ayushman Bharat in West Bengal after the BJP forms the government.
"On the day a BJP chief minister takes oath, the very first cabinet meeting will implement the Ayushman Bharat Yojana. This is Modi's guarantee," he said.