PM MODI, MAMATA CROSS SWORDS IN BENGAL

No-holds barred fight as they try to outdo each other

- SUPROTIM MUKHERJEE

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday engaged in a fierce noholds-barred fight as their parties tried to outdo each other in the battle for the ballots in North Bengal. Both of them addressed well-attended rallies in North Bengal. While Modi addressed a meeting in Cooch Behar in support of the Union Minister of State for Home Nisith Pramanik, it was sandwiched between two rallies by Mamata Banerjee in Mathabhanga in Cooch Behar and Mal in Jalpaiguri districts.

Modi criticised the Opposition parties for trying to save the corrupt and asserted that he would ensure that they were punished. “They (I.N.D.I.A bloc) never cared for the marginalised communities. Now that we have brought CAA, they are spreading rumours and lies. It is Modi ki guarantee to provide citizenship to those who have faith in Maa Bharati,” he said at a mega rally at Rash Mela grounds in Cooch Behar

He hit out at I.N.DI.A alliance and said: “The Opposition alliance is busy indulging in politics of lies and deceit. I am saying remove corruption; the Opposition is saying ‘save the corrupt’. He said that he would ensure that the corrupt are punished, and the poor get justice. “In the next five years, more stringent action will be taken against the corrupt,” he added.