New Delhi, April 11 Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday after the latter's promise of a "white paper" on corruption in West Bengal, saying that nine out of the 10 opposition leaders facing corruption investigations who joined the BJP "received relief".
In a post on X, O'Brien shared a "fact-check" of the claims made by Modi at a poll rally in Katwa, Purba Bardhaman district of West Bengal.
"Another election speech by Narendra today. Let's once again expose his 8 claims and present an 8-point reality check," O'Brien said.
Regarding the prime minister's remarks about the BJP bringing a "white paper" on corruption, he said, "Nine out of 10 opposition leaders facing corruption investigations who joined the BJP received relief. Praful Patel, Himanta Biswa Sarma, Narayan Rane, Ajit Pawar, Ashok Chavan, and Suvendu Adhikari became the Leader of Opposition. This is the 'BJP Washing Machine'."
Countering claims about governance in West Bengal, O'Brien said the TMC government had "lifted two crore people out of poverty", reduced unemployment, and launched multiple welfare schemes. He also highlighted initiatives such as 'Duare Sarkar camps' and social assistance programmes, asserting that crores of beneficiaries had received services at their doorstep.
On Modi's remarks on increasing farmers' income in West Bengal, O'Brien disputed claims regarding benefits under the PM-Kisan scheme, stating that a parliamentary panel had recommended increasing the amount, which had not been implemented.
The TMC leader contrasted this with the state's Krishak Bandhu scheme, claiming it provided higher assistance to farmers in West Bengal.
On the issue of women's safety, O'Brien criticised the BJP, citing national crime data and referring to controversies including the remission of convicts in the Bilkis Bano case. He also targeted Union Home Minister Amit Shah over law and order issues in Delhi.
"81 women are raped every day in the country. The highest rate of crime against women is in Delhi, where the police are under the control of Home Minister Amit Shah. The BJP shielded the MP who molested champion women wrestlers. The rapists of Bilkis Bano were freed," he said.
On employment schemes, including the PM Vishwakarma Yojana, O'Brien claimed that only a fraction of applicants had received loan sanctions, questioning the effectiveness of the initiative.
In his speech, Modi said the BJP had brought in the Citizenship (Amendment) Act to grant citizenship to refugees and accused the TMC of trying to spread fear among them.
He alleged that the 15-year rule of the TMC has given nothing but fear to every citizen, and promised age relaxation in government recruitment. Modi also promised to roll out Ayushman Bharat in Bengal immediately after the BJP forms the government.
