‘Speed Breaker’ vs ‘Expiry Babu’: Narendra Modi fires opening salvo at Mamata Banerjee, Didi retaliates with broadside fire at PM 

Narendra Modi (L) and Mamata Banerjee. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his first election rally in West Bengal, launched a scathing attack on state chief minister and Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee, on Wednesday. While seeking votes for the Bharatiya Janata Party at a rally in Siliguri, Modi said Banerjee was an impediment to development and likened her with a “speed breaker”.

Modi said, “It is true that we could not do speedy development in West Bengal like we did in other states. This is because there is a speed-breaker in West Bengal, which is known as Didi (Mamata Banerjee).”

Continuing his attack on Banerjee, Modi further said, “She does not want to eradicate poverty. If poverty goes away, then their politics will come to an end. They want to see poverty and that’s why they have stopped development projects for the poor.”

Full video of Narendra Modi’s address at BJP rally in Siliguri:

Reacting to Modi’s remarks in Siliguri, Banerjee returned fire, at a rally in West Bengal’s Dinhata, by describing the prime minister as “expiry babu”.

She said, “From now onwards, I won’t call Modi babu ‘prime minister’ … will call him ‘expiry babu’ because his government has expired.”

Then challenging Modi for a one-on-one debate, Banerjee said, “‘Expiry babu’ said in Siliguri that our government does not work for the poor … what have you done in 5 years? I want an explanation. If you think you are right, then come to me directly for a debate … you will question me I will answer.”

Banerjee also mocked Modi’s “56-inch chest” – a term that he used to describe himself while taunting Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav in one his 2014 Lok Sabha election rallies – and claimed that his government “did nothing to protect the lives of the CRPF jawans despite having information about the February’s suicide attack in Pulwama.

She said, “PM should not lie. You claim to have a 56-inch chest and you are telling lies.” she said.

She then said said, “Please don’t try to teach me nationalism. You had information (about the Pulwama attack) but took no action (to prevent it) leading to the death of our jawans.”

Banerjee, continuing her attack on the prime minister, then said, “Chowkidar (watchman) is acting like a fascist. You are talking of air strike, you will see a ‘voter strike’.”

Full video of Mamata Banerjee’s address at TMC rally in Dinhata:

Later in the day, Modi addressed a rally in Kolkata’s famous Brigade Grounds, where the leaders of over 20 opposition parties showcased their unity, in January. The prime minister continued his attack on Banerjee from where he left in Siliguri.

In the rally, Modi accused the West Bengal chief minister and her MP nephew, Abhishek Banerjee, for looting the state. He promised the people a Bengal free from the “goonda raj” of the TMC and the Left.

He said, “West Bengal is being run and ruined by aunt-nephew. The BJP will overthrow misrule in the state.”

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