Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched a bitter attack on the Trinamool Congress leadership in Bengal over corruption, promising that action against the corrupt would intensify after the new government is formed at the centre after June 4, the day of the Lok Sabha election results
Addressing a rally at Purulia, the prime minister asserted that he was looking for ways to return the money confiscated from the corrupt to the victims of corruption in Bengal.
"Modi is giving you another guarantee. After the new government is formed after June 4, we will ensure that all the corrupt are behind bars and spend their lives there.... After June 4, actions against the corrupt would intensify,” said Modi, who addressed two other rallies, in Bishnupur and Kharagpur, in Bengal on Sunday.
Before announcing stricter action against the corrupt in Purulia, Modi made it clear who he meant by corrupt.
"Whether it is the TMC or the Congress, they are two sides of the same coin. Look at how mountains of cash are found with Congress ministers and MPs. Similarly, mountains of cash are found with TMC leaders and ministers," he said.
"Modi is catching unaccounted money.... I am trying to return this money to the victims. For this, I am trying to find a way out,” he added.
Sources in the BJP said that the prime minister perhaps meant that he was consulting legal experts so that the unaccounted money seized during raids by various central agencies across the country could be returned to those from whom the money was collected.
"But it is easier said than done as the agencies have to first establish that the unaccounted money was taken from common people and the agencies will have to establish a link between the money seized and the victims they want to return the money to, in court," said a legal expert, who did not wish to be named.
Modi also dwelt extensively on one of his pet themes — dynastic politics — in his Bengal outings today as he mentioned that he has nothing to leave for his brother or nephew.
"Modi does not have to do anything for himself. Neither do I have to do anything for any of my nephews or brothers. I have to leave a developed India as a legacy for the children of poor, Dalit and tribals,” said Modi.
During all the three meetings that he addressed in Bengal on Monday, Modi attacked Trinamool on "corruption" on various fronts.
He raised the issue of the teacher recruitment scam in which Calcutta High Court cancelled recruitment of 25,753 teachers of state-aided schools citing irregularities. The Supreme Court has issued a stay order on the HC verdict, but it is a burning poll issue.
"The TMC has done corruption in recruitment of teachers… This has made the future of several youths uncertain,” said Modi, who also alleged corruption in ration distribution and rural housing.
In the dry Purulia district, Modi held Trinamool responsible for the "delayed" implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission in Bengal.
As all the three meetings were held in areas with high concentrations of SC, ST and OBC populations, he spoke on the reservation issue.
"Babasaheb Ambedkar (the architect of the Constitution) was against reservations based on religion. But today, the INDI alliance wants to provide reservations based on religion. In Karnataka, they (the Congress) have given OBC reservation to Muslims. The TMC and the Congress are working together on this,” said Modi.
He also criticised Mamata Banerjee for alleged remarks against the Ramakrishna Mission, ISKCON, and Bharat Sevashram Sangha, saying threats were being issued to appease her vote bank.
