“Mamata Banerjee threatening Ramakrishna Mission, Bharat Sevashram, ISKCON to please vote bank”: PM Modi

Purulia: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday slammed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over her remarks against Ramakrishna Mission and Bharat Sevashram Sangha and said threats are being issued against these socio-religious organisations to please their vote bank.

While addressing a public meeting in Purulia, PM Modi said, “The TMC government, which intimidated and threatened the people of Bengal during elections, has crossed all limits this time. Today, in the country and the world, ISKCON, Ram Krishna Mission, and Bharat Sevashram Sangh are known for service and morality, but today the Chief Minister of Bengal is openly threatening them, warning them from an open platform.”

In Arambagh today, Mamata Banerjee stooped to a new low, launching an outrageous attack on ISKCON, Ramakrishna Mission, and Bharat Sevashram Sangh.

She accused these revered organizations, which risk their lives to help people during floods, of threatening the country’s future.… pic.twitter.com/OQXYHbAyWk

— BJP West Bengal (@BJP4Bengal) May 18, 2024

“There are millions of followers associated with these missions all over the world, and their sole aim is to serve the people. The Bengal government has pointed a finger at him and is threatening in his name. So much courage! Just to please their vote bank,” he added.

The Prime Minister’s statement comes after the West Bengal CM said on Saturday, “There is a maharaj in Behrampore; I have been hearing about him for a long time. Kartik Maharaj. He says he will not allow any TMC agent in the poll booth. I do not consider him a saint because he is directly involved in politics. I used to respect Bharat Sevashram Sangha a lot. It has been on my list of respected organisations for a long time.”

PM Modi also slammed the Trinamool Congress (TMC) party over the Sandeshkhali incident, saying that to save their ‘Shahjahan’, the TMC people are blaming the sisters of Sandeshkhali and questioning their character.

He said that the TMC that came to power by saying that it would protect Maa, Maati, and Manush is now devouring them.

“TMC came to power by saying that it would protect Maa, Maati, and Manush. Today, TMC is devouring Maa, Maati, and Manush. The women of Bengal have lost faith in TMC. The sin that has happened in Sandeshkhali has forced the sisters of Bengal to think. The TMC people do not even consider the sisters of SC/ST families as human beings. To save their Shahjahan, the TMC people are blaming the sisters of Sandeshkhali and questioning their character. The kind of language they are using for them, every daughter of Bengal will destroy TMC with her vote,” PM Modi said while addressing a public meeting in Purulia.

“TMC gives the slogan ‘Maa, Maati, Maanush’ yet does nothing to protect them. The incident of Sandeshkhali has shaken the women of Bengal. TMC has dehumanised the women of SC and ST communities to protect Shahjahan Sheikh. Leaders of TMC are pointing fingers at the women who suffered atrocities,” he added.

Sandeshkhali, a village in North 24 Parganas district, started hitting the headlines in February this year when villagers, mostly women, came out on the streets against the ruling TMC and Shahjahan (the main accused in the incident).

Women accused Shahjahan and his aides of perpetrating atrocities on them along with gobbling up their land. Multiple women on the island accused Shajahan and his aides of “land-grab and sexual assault” under coercion.

PM Modi continued his attack on the opposition leaders and promised the people that after June 4, when the BJP forms the new government, he will not let corrupt people live outside the jail.

“I am saying it now that I won’t let the corrupt live outside jail. Modi is giving you another guarantee: after June 4, when we form the new govt, corrupt people will have to spend their entire lives in jail,” he said.

Reiterating that there could be no reservation based on religion, PM Modi accused the leaders of the INDIA bloc of undermining the Constitution and promoting infiltration.

“Baba Saheb Ambedkar was against reservations on the basis of religion, but today the INDI alliance wants to give reservations on the basis of religion. In Karnataka, these people gave OBC quota reservations to Muslims, TMC is standing shoulder to shoulder with Congress in this conspiracy. Do you want to put an end to your reservations? You are not the vote bank for TMC and Congress, so these parties don’t care about you,” the Prime Minister said.

“The INDI Alliance has used every tool in their arsenal, but all their attacks have failed because of the shield protecting my citizens. I stand as that shield for you. I have exposed their deeds to you. They want to undermine the Constitution, promote infiltrators, and oppose the implementation of the CAA to appease their vote bank,” he added.

Coming down heavily on the TMC-led West Bengal government over the teacher recruitment scam, PM Modi said, “In Bengal, where Maa Saraswati is worshipped, the TMC government steals even in education. They ruined the future of thousands of youth in the recruitment of teachers.”

“TMC and Congress are two sides of the same coin. Huge amounts of money have been found at the houses of Congress leaders. Similarly, the leaders of TMC also have bundles of money with them. They abuse Modi, but have I ever tried to hide anything from you?” he added.