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Modi in Bengal: Praises Citizenship Bill, asks for TMC's support

Modi in Bengal: Praises Citizenship Bill, asks for TMC's support

Feb 02, 2019
02:28 pm

What's the story

Addressing a rally in West Bengal's Thakurnagar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the crowd's strength rattled Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Hence, Didi has taken the route of violence, he quipped. PM Modi, who is on a one-day visit to the state, said he wanted Trinamool Congress to support the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. He also said the budget was just a trailer.

Information

The rally was organized by All India Matua Mahasangha

The rally was organized by BJP-aligned faction of All India Matua Mahasangha at a ground spread over 2,73,600 sq ft. Before addressing the rally, Modi paid a visit to the temple at the house of Dalit Matua community matriarch Binapani Debi, referred to as Baro-ma.

Budget talk

Money will be sent to bank accounts: Modi tells farmers

In his address, PM Modi spoke about the interim Budget, which was presented on Friday. Explaining the flagship Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, under which marginalized farmers will get Rs. 6,000/year, PM Modi said they won't have to pay syndicate tax for it. "The money (to farmers) will be paid directly to your bank account," he told the sea of people.

Twitter Post

Wait for the main budget, says PM Modi

Loan waivers

PM Modi says loan waivers didn't help many

PM Modi also said politics of loan waivers was an attempt to 'throw dust in eyes'. He said in Madhya Pradesh, after promising to write off loan worth Rs. 2.5 lakh/head, the state government only gave a respite of Rs. 13. In Rajasthan, the government washed its hands off, PM Modi claimed. Notably, BJP lost MP, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh in recently-held assembly elections.

Citizenship Bill

Trinamool should support Citizenship (Amendment) Bill: PM Modi

He went on to say in Karnataka, police hounded those who couldn't repay loans. "And the chief minister of this state (Banerjee) is supporting the Karnataka CM (HD Kumaraswamy)," he said. On the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, PM Modi said his government took concrete steps in this direction. "I am asking Trinamool to support it," he said ending his speech.

Poster war

Ahead of PM Modi's rally, BJP, TMC fight over posters

PM Modi will also address a rally in Durgapur, where BJP and TMC locked horns over posters. BJP National Secretary Rahul Sinha said TMC workers put posters of Banerjee above PM Modi's banners. When the workers protested, they were attacked, Sinha claimed. Subsequently, BJP filed a police complaint. Interestingly, Bengal has 42 Lok Sabha seats and BJP is hoping to win at least 22.