Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday strongly criticised the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal following an attack on BJP leaders, including MP Khagen Murmu and MLA Sankar Ghosh, during their visit to the flood and landslide-hit Dooars region in the northern part of the state.
Both leaders sustained injuries in the incident.
In a post on X, Modi condemned the ruling party for the attack, saying it reflected an "absolutely pathetic" law and order situation in West Bengal.
He expressed regret that the state government appeared more focused on politics than on assisting people in distress.
Modi wrote, "The manner in which our party colleagues, including a sitting MP and MLA, were attacked in West Bengal for serving the people affected by floods and landslides is outright appalling. It highlights the insensitivity of the TMC as well as the absolutely pathetic law and order situation in the state."
He urged BJP Karyakartas to continue working among the affected population and assist ongoing rescue operations.
Responding to the Prime Minister’s remarks, Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee hit back sharply, accusing PM Modi of politicising a natural disaster while the state is reeling from severe floods and landslides in North Bengal.
“It is unfortunate and deeply concerning that the Prime Minister of India has chosen to politicise a natural disaster without waiting for a proper investigation, especially while people in North Bengal are grappling with the aftermath of devastating floods and landslides,” Banerjee wrote in a post on X late on Monday.
She said that when the entire local administration and police were engrossed in relief and rescue operations, BJP leaders “chose to go to the affected areas with a large convoy of cars and under security cover of the central forces and that too without any information to local police and administration.”
“How can the state administration, local police, or the TMC be blamed for the incident?” she questioned, adding that the Prime Minister “blamed the TMC and the Bengal government outright without a shred of verified evidence, legal inquiry, or administrative report.”
“This is not just a political low; it is a breach of the constitutional ethos the Prime Minister has sworn to uphold. In any democracy, the law must take its own course, and only due process can determine culpability — not a tweet from a political pulpit,” Banerjee said.
The chief minister also pointed out that the incident took place in a constituency that elected a BJP MLA.
“Yet the Prime Minister sees no contradiction in painting the incident as a reflection of TMC’s so-called ‘strongmanship’. Such sweeping, unsubstantiated generalisations are not only immature but unbecoming of the highest office in the land,” she added.
Referring to the PM’s delayed visit to Manipur amid ethnic violence, Banerjee said, “Coming from a Prime Minister who visited Manipur only 964 days after it was engulfed in ethnic violence, the sudden concern for Bengal appears less like empathy and more like opportunistic political theatre.”
“Yes, we all condemn violence, unequivocally. But this is not the time for partisan chest-thumping. This is a time to help and heal,” she wrote, urging Modi to “listen to the elected state government, not just your party colleagues.”
“You are the Prime Minister of India, not just of BJP. Your responsibility lies in nation-building, not narrative-building,” she said, calling for unity.
“At this critical hour, let us not deepen divides. Let us stand united beyond party lines, to serve the people who need us the most. Let’s leave politics for another day,” Banerjee concluded.
In an earlier post, she criticised the Centre for its handling of the situation.
She stated, "I have repeatedly urged the Centre to constitute an Indo-Bhutan River Commission, but there has been no response. In addition, the lack of proper dredging and desiltation, and unilateral water releases from DVC-controlled dams have compounded the situation, resulting in avoidable tragedies."
She added, "But in times of crisis, politics must never take precedence over people’s lives. The State Government remains committed to standing shoulder to shoulder with those affected."
With inputs from PTI