PM Modi Takes 'Nirmamta' Jibe At Mamata Banerjee, Slams TMC Over Murshidabad, Malda Violence

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday, describing the recent violence in Murshidabad and Malda as emblematic of her government's "cruelty and indifference".

In a pointed jibe, PM Modi coined the term "nirmamta" - a Hindi word meaning cruelty - as a pun on Mamata Banerjee's name.

Photo Credit: PMO via PTI Photo

He accused the Trinamool Congress (TMC) of failing to maintain law and order and turning a blind eye to the suffering of the people.

"Today, West Bengal is grappling with a series of crises. The first is the widespread violence and lawlessness that are tearing apart the fabric of society. Incidents in Murshidabad and Malda are stark examples of the Trinamool government's cruelty and indifference to the people's suffering," the Prime Minister said, following the inauguration of a City Gas Distribution project in Alipurduar, Bengal.

The ruling TMC is already facing criticism after a fact-finding report by a Calcutta High Court-appointed panel held local party leaders - including an MLA and a councillor - responsible for the communal clashes in Murshidabad, which erupted during protests against the Waqf law.

The report also criticised the Bengal Police for failing to act during the disturbances.

The incident, which shook the border district last month, has since become a key issue for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as it gears up for next year's assembly elections in the state.

BJP leaders have accused the Mamata Banerjee-led administration of practising appeasement politics and failing to protect Hindus.

Escalating his critique, the Prime Minister said the people of West Bengal had lost confidence in the state government.

"The people here now have only the court to rely on. That's why the whole of Bengal is saying, 'We don't want a ruthless government!'" said PM Modi.

He went on to accuse the TMC government of widespread corruption, referencing the controversial teacher recruitment scam.

"The youth, poor, and middle-class families are bearing the brunt of corruption," he alleged. "The TMC government has ruined the future of thousands of teachers and their families. This is not just the destruction of a few thousand teachers, but the entire education system is deteriorating. Even now, they refuse to admit their mistakes, instead blaming the courts."

PM Modi also claimed that the Mamata Banerjee administration had obstructed central welfare schemes aimed at supporting disadvantaged groups.

"Why is the TMC so strongly against the poor, backward communities, and women? The central government has launched several welfare schemes, but the state government is not allowing their implementation in West Bengal," he said.

Criticising the Chief Minister for missing last week's NITI Aayog meeting, the Prime Minister said, "Her party only wants to play politics 24 hours and does not prioritise Bengal's development or the country's progress."