Refuting allegations levelled against him for going on numerous foreign trips in the past five years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said India’s might has been acknowledged across the globe because of these trips.
Addressing two rallies in West Bengal’s Birbhum and Nadia districts, Mr. Modi also targeted Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
“I read that Didi (Ms. Banerjee) has said that the ‘Chaiwala’ has only been busy making foreign trips in the past five years. Didi, today India is showing its might across the world because the voice of 130 crore Indians has reached the foreign countries due to these foreign tours,” Mr. Modi said at a rally at Ilambazar in Birbhum district.
The Prime Minister said five years ago India used to struggle to get support from the foreign countries on any issue.
“But today the whole world stands with us during any crisis,” Mr. Modi said.
He claimed that it was because of the country’s growing strength that culprits who fled after looting money are being caught and brought back.
Continuing his tirade against Ms. Banerjee, Mr. Modi called her ‘sticker Didi’ alleging that her government labels Central welfare schemes as hers.
In his earlier rallies, Mr. Modi had referred to Ms. Banerjee as “speed-breaker Didi.”
“Speed-breaker Didi is also sticker Didi. She just puts a sticker on central schemes like free electricity or ration for the people to claim that these benefits are being given by the State government,” he said at a rally at Ranaghat in Nadia district.
Mr. Modi also accused the Chief Minister of betraying the people of Bengal “who gave her so much trust and respect”.
During the two rallies the Prime Minister raised issues like infiltration and the Naradha and Saradha scams. While he assured that said that those involved in the chit fund and Narada scams will not be spared after the BJP returns to power, Mr. Modi also said that Ms. Banerjee, who used to raise voice against infiltration while in Opposition, is now the biggest protector of infiltrators.
