Prime Minister Narendra Modi, visiting Bengal on Saturday, accused the state government of hindering efforts to improve health facilities here and cited the example of Kalyani's All India Institute of Medical Sciences, which was denied environmental clearance.

At a public meeting in Nadia's Krishnanagar, Modi said: "A few days ago, I dedicated the AIIMS Kalyani to people through a video conference. This modern hospital with about 1,000 beds comes with several facilities and job opportunities. However, the Bengal government has problems with the launching of AIIMS in Kalyani. It has difficulties.... That is why (environmental) permission has not been given."

Hitting out at the alleged corrupt ways of the Trinamul-led Bengal government, Modi linked the issue of permission of AIIMS to "Trinamul's politics of extortion". He said "extortionists" did not require permission to "loot and riot" in Bengal but the Bengal government had problems giving environmental clearance to "such a big hospital".
"Unless commission is received, Trinamul government denies all permissions," Modi said, alleging Trinamul's policy was commission first, then permission.

The West Bengal Pollution Control Board, a Bengal government organisation, has accused AIIMS Kalyani of not obtaining the environmental clearance and slapped a penalty of Rs 15 crore under the guidelines of the ministry of environment. Any project spanning over 20,000sqm requires to obtain environmental clearance from the respective state government.

Reacting to Modi's allegations regarding AIIMS, an official of the state health department said: "The way Prime Minister accused the state government over the environment issue and compared it to an extortion attempt is unfortunate."

"The fact is that state government has no authority to exempt the amount slapped by PCB," the official added.

Trinamul's Nadia North organising district president Debasish Ganguly said: "The state government has no problems with AIIMS Kalyani but for the issues of alleged corruption over recruitment. But the way the Prime Minister has accused the state government over the environmental issue was unexpected. He spoke a lot about corruption, but he should also know that leaders of his party are involved in corrupt practices over employment at AIIMS Kalyani."

"It is the Mamata Banerjee government that gave 179 acres free of cost to set up AIIMS in Kalyani," Ganguly added.

Modi also used the Krishnanagar rally to slam Trinamul on "oppression".

"People of Bengal with much expectations voted for Trinamul again and again, but Trinamul has become another name for oppression and treachery," Modi said. "For Trinamul, Bengal's development did not matter. They are deep into corruption and dynasty politics."

On Trinamul's charges of funds freeze under several central schemes, Modi accused it of siphoning off funds meant for poor beneficiaries by creating around 25 lakh fake job cards.

"You can't even dream that 25 lakh fake job cards were created under MGNREGA.... Young brothers please keep in mind and inform everyone.... Those who have not been born, cards have been made in their names. The money that the poor people were supposed to get, has been looted by the extortionist," Modi said, added TMC stood for "Tu-Main-Corruption hi Corruption".

Reacting to Modi's allegation of fake job cards, Trinamul spokesperson Sashi Panja said: "The statement that Narendra Modi made in Krishnanagar is unfortunate. You have deprived 59 lakh beneficiaries in Bengal of their legitimate wages. Now Mamata Banerjee is paying the money. Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of fake job cards. But UP has not been deprived because UP has a BJP government."