Jalpaiguri, West Bengal – Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee engaged in a heated exchange on Sunday, highlighting the ongoing tensions between their respective parties. Modi accused the Trinamool Congress (TMC) of protecting corrupt leaders by obstructing the work of central agencies, while Banerjee countered by questioning the motives behind investigations conducted by these agencies.
The exchange stemmed from an incident where an NIA team was attacked by a violent mob in Naruabila village, East Midnapore, during an investigation into a 2022 blast case that resulted in three fatalities. This attack mirrored a previous incident where Enforcement Directorate officials were assaulted during a raid at the house of suspended TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh in connection with a corruption scandal.
During an election rally in Jalpaiguri, Modi accused the TMC of undermining the legal system and the Constitution by obstructing central agencies’ work in West Bengal. He also alleged that the TMC, along with the Left and Congress, formed the INDI Alliance to shield corrupt leaders within their parties.
In response, Mamata Banerjee insinuated that the NIA’s investigations had a political agenda, citing concerns about communal tensions during the upcoming Ram Navami festival. She sarcastically remarked that the NIA would be deployed even if someone were to set off firecrackers during the festival. Banerjee also called on the central government to release a white paper detailing corruption inquiries in West Bengal and criticized the delay in responding to requests regarding storm relief efforts in Jalpaiguri.
The political back-and-forth continued as the Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari accused Banerjee of trying to incite tensions ahead of Ram Navami. Adhikari urged people not to believe Banerjee’s statements, citing past instances where she allegedly misled the public.
As tensions between the BJP and TMC escalate in West Bengal, the exchange between Modi and Banerjee underscores the deep-rooted political rivalry between the two parties ahead of the upcoming elections. The verbal sparring also sheds light on the challenges faced by central agencies in conducting investigations in a politically charged environment.