lok-sabha-elections

Updated: Apr 28, 2019 20:06 IST

In a no-holds barred attack not seen so far in this election season, Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of not respecting his mother and wife.

“How can you, who has not shown any respect to your own mother, your wife, teach us how to respect our country? A prime minster like this can never be trusted with the country,” Banerjee said at an election rally at Heria in East Midnapore district.

“The Prime Minister’s speeches are instigating, the language is shameful,” she added. The Trinamool Congress chief appeared agitated and referred to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders as liars and hooligans. “They are using religious propaganda to divert your attention from crucial issues. If this is how elections are to be held, let there be no election at all. Let us all fight over religion,” she said.

This is not the first time that Banerjee has resorted to personal attacks on Modi, but she never accused the Prime Minister of disrespecting his family. “Did you ever look after your family? Leave alone others, did you look after your wife? How can you know how mothers, daughters and sisters live? You have none,” the Bengal chief minister had said while addressing a rally in Cooch Behar district on April 8.

Reacting to Banerjee’s statement on Sunday, Bengal BJP general secretary Sayantan Basu said, “It is a matter of shame that a chief minister resorts to personal attacks against the Prime Minister. She is incapable of countering Modi Ji politically and hence she is resorting to personal attacks. This is nothing but an expression of her fears.”

At her second rally at Nimtouri, also in East Midnapore, Banerjee alleged that crores of rupees were being spent on Modi’s rallies but the Election Commission of India (ECI) was not taking any action.

She also targeted the Communist Party of India (Marxist). “Those who unleashed violence wearing red shirts are now flexing their muscles in saffron shirts. CPI (M) has sold its flag to the BJP,” Banerjee said.