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Updated: May 09, 2019 23:55 IST

A war of words between Narendra Modi and chief minister Mamata Banerjee escalated on Thursday as the prime minister accused West Bengal’s ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders in the state’s Purulia and Bankura districts of having links with the coal mafia. Banerjee hit back later in the day and asked Modi to do “100 sit-ups holding his ears” if he is proved wrong.

The two exchanged barbs earlier this week as well amid a bitter national election campaign in West Bengal, which has the most (42) Lok Sabha seats after Uttar Pradesh (80) and Maharashtra (48).

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been trying to make inroads into states like West Bengal to make up for the possible loss of seats in its western and north Indian strongholds like Uttar Pradesh, where it peaked in 2014 by winning 71 seats.

Banerjee on Tuesday said that she felt like giving Modi “a slap of democracy” when he comes to Bengal and accuses her party of “tolabazi” [extortion].

Modi responded to Banerjee’s remark on Thursday. “Didi [Banerjee] said she wants to slap Modi. Didi, I respect you… Your slap will be a blessing to me. But… if you really had the courage to slap those who ate away chit fund money, you would not have been so scared today,” Modi said at an election rally in Bankura, which would go to the polls in the sixth phase of Lok Sabha elections on May 12.

The reference to chit fund money was an allusion to the Saradha Group scandal in which thousands of poor and middle-class people lost their life savings.

“Didi’s frustration can be measured from her language. I am used to abuses, but Didi is even insulting the Constitution. She is publicly saying that she is not ready to recognise the country’s prime minister. However, she is proud to recognise Pakistan’s prime minister,” Modi claimed. “She is such an egotist that she does not want to talk to the country’s prime minister.”

Banerjee has been referring to Modi as “expiry babu” and “expiry prime minister”. She refused to talk to Modi when he tried to contact her to inquire about the impact of cyclone Fani that hit coastal Bengal last week. Banerjee has argued that Modi is merely heading a caretaker government while the elections are being held.

Modi accused Banerjee of sacrificing the people’s interest to protect those of her family and “corrupt” party leaders. “Didi first ruined Bengal for the addiction of power. Now she is ruining it further in the fear of losing power. She cares only for her chair, her family, her nephew, the extortionists and no one else,” Modi alleged. He said the TMC has made mafia a part of the government. “Didi is busy building her nephew’s career,” the PM said, referring to Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjee.

Banerjee responded at a rally in the same district hours later, saying she shall withdraw all 42 Lok Sabha candidates in West Bengal if Modi can prove even one of them is linked to the coal mafia. “But if you have lied, you have to hold your ears and do 100 sit-ups before the people.”

Banerjee said the Centre administers coal mining and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) guards the mines. “The BJP men are the agents. How can TMC men be coal mafia? You have to explain.”

Banerjee said that Modi “looks like Ravana and rules like Duryodhana”.

“Don’t accuse my family. I am alone, the people are my family. You have your wife, but do you take care of her? You do not care for your wife and you speak about the families of others? Don’t you have any shame?”

Banerjee challenged Modi to a debate on Indian history. “There will be no papers or teleprompters. You will ask me questions to which I shall reply, and I shall ask you questions, to which you have to respond.”

She explained her slap remark. “I have never said that I shall slap you. Why should I slap you? I have said slap of democracy.Please try to understand the language. People will defeat you in the elections. That is the slap of democracy.”