On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing his first public rally ahead of West Bengal’s assembly polls, accused Mamata Banerjee government, of “criminalised politics, institutionalised corruption and politicised the police”.

He maintained that instead of ‘mamta’ (affection) people suffered ‘nirmamta’ (cruelty) under her rule.

Confident about forming the next Bengal government, he said “Bengal loves football. Speaking in that language TMC has committed several fouls in the last 10 years and the time has come to show it the ‘Ram Card’ in the assembly elections”.

Cautioning people about “match-fixing” between the TMC, Congress and the Left, Modi said only a BJP government can free the state of “misgovernance” and bring about a “real change” in their lives as was being experienced in Tripura.

He assailed the West Bengal government for not implementing central schemes like Ayushman Bharat and PM Kisan Samman Nidhi in the state, and asserted that once the BJP formed its government it will take a decision at the very first cabinet meeting to execute all such stalled programmes.

“Bengal expected ‘mamta’ (affection) from Mamata Banerjee but got ‘nirmamta’ (cruelty) in the last 10 years. The TMC government is just a rebirth of the misrule of the Left Front government in the state, rebirth of corruption, of crime and criminals, of violence and attack on democracy,: he alleged.

Mocking Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for getting angry over slogans of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’, Modi wondered why she remained silent when conspiracies were hatched to malign the country.

“She gets angry when she hears slogans hailing the motherland. She gets angry when you demand your rights. But she remains silent when conspiracies are hatched to malign the nation,” he said.

Modi was referring to Banerjee’s refusal to deliver her speech at a function to mark the 125th birthday of West Bengal's legendary freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at Kolkata's Victoria Memorial after Jai Shri Ram slogans greeted her.

“There are some conspirators who're trying to destroy India’s image associated with tea and yoga-- made famous by iconic Indians-- across the world. Has Didi spoken anything about these conspirators? The country will respond to such conspiracies with all the force at its command,” he said.

He was apparently referring to Swedish environmentalist Greta Thunberg’s controversial ‘toolkit’, which she tweeted and then deleted, outlining ways in which people can participate in the farmers protest.

One of the points reportedly mentioned there was to “disrupt yoga and chai image of India in general”.

Referring to the game of football, a hugely popular sport in Bengal, Modi said that the people of the state are ready to show “Ram Card” to TMC now.

“Bengal is a state that loves football. In football parlance, I want to say that the TMC government has committed many fouls. From corruption, misgovernance, extortion, to attack on opposition workers. The people are ready to show them the Ram card,” he said.

“The people of Bengal will bid Ram-Ram to TMC and chant Jai Shri Ram to welcome the BJP,” he said, adding Trinamool Congress leaders and workers wanting to work for the country were quitting the state's ruling party and joining the saffron camp.

Lashing out at “dynasty politics” in the TMC, Modi said the people of Bengal have decided to end “Bua-Bhatijawad” rule in the state, without naming TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee and nephew Abhishek.

Modi assailed the TMC government for not implementing various central schemes in the state.

“Under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, over 10 crore small farmers have received Rs 1.15 lakh crore in their accounts. But farmers of Bengal could not because the state did not implement it. Now that the farmers have made up their mind to teach Mamata Didi a lesson, the state government has grudgingly agreed to join the scheme,” he said.

He claimed while more than 25 lakh farmers in the state applied online to join the scheme, the names of only 6,000 were forwarded to the Centre.

“Are farmers enemies of Mamata Didi?” he asked.

Accusing the TMC government of siphoning off central funds and aid sent by the Centre in the aftermath of the destruction caused by cyclone Amphan, he alleged it found “avenues for corruption even during tragedy. There cannot be a bigger crime than this”.

The prime minister claimed foodgrains and other aid sent by the Centre during the COVID-induced lockdown did not reach the beneficiaries.

He recalled how the Calcutta High Court had to intervene and order an audit of relief funds by the CAG.

Modi alleged the Left Front, Congress and Trinamool Congress were playing a fixed political match in the state.

“You should be wary of the hidden friends of the TMC. The Left Front, Congress and the TMC are together in Delhi to fix their political agenda and are engaging in a shadow fight in Bengal. In Kerala, the Left and the Congress are doing the same thing having decided to loot people alternately for five years,” he said.