Durgapur (West Bengal) [India], July 18 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday addressed a public rally in Durgapur, West Bengal, where he strongly criticized the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government for its alleged misrule and corruption.

He accused the TMC of obstructing investment in the state through 'Gunda Tax' and claimed that businessmen are being threatened by TMC members.

'...In West Bengal, money is being demanded from businessmen, the people of the TMC threaten them...The 'Gunda Tax' of TMC obstructs investment in the state,' said PM Modi.

PM Modi urged the people of West Bengal to consider a change in government, promising that a BJP-led administration would bring development and ensure the state's progress. He highlighted the need for a 'double-engine' government to utilize central funds effectively and prevent corruption, citing the development witnessed in BJP-ruled states like Assam, Tripura and Odisha.

He said, 'BJP got a chance in Assam after a long time, and now Assam is developing rapidly. Everyone knows what situation Tripura was in, but the BJP government is taking Tripura forward in development. Odisha will also become one of the states that will top the list in terms of development. I urge you to give one chance to the BJP and form a government that is honest and hardworking.'

Lashing out at the TMC government, Prime Minister Modi said that in the last decade, a situation has been created in West Bengal that is unfavourable for investment and employment.

He stated, 'We have to take back the pride of Durgapur and West Bengal. The important thing for it is investment, and people here set up industries. There should be more and more investment on Bengal's youth and their skill. But it's not possible under TMC's reign. In last decade, a situation has been created against investments and jobs. Riots like Murshidabad happen in West Bengal and the police take unilateral action. When there is no ray of justice in West Bengal, how can one invest? The state government cannot protect the shops and lives of the people of the state....'

Asserting that development will only be possible once the TMC government is removed, the Prime Minister said, 'When the TMC government is removed from power, then only there will be real development in West Bengal...'

He expressed pain and anger over atrocities against women in West Bengal, citing the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape-murder incident, where he claimed the TMC tried to shield the culprits. PM Modi emphasized that hospitals are not safe for women under the current government.

Addressing the gathering, PM Modi said, 'The injustice happening with the daughters in West Bengal under the rule of the party that talks about 'maa, maatu aur maanush' (TMC government) is painful and outrageous. It is happening on the land of Kadambini Ganguly, India's first Western medicine doctor. It is her birthday today, but today hospitals are also not safe for the daughters in West Bengal.'

'TMC government shielded the criminals in the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape-murder incident. The nation did not recover from this incident, and in another college, an atrocity was committed on a daughter and in this case, the accused has a connection with the TMC... There are several examples that are proof of TMC's ruthlessness. We have to free Bengal from this ruthlessness,' he said.

During his visit ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, PM Modi laid the foundation stones and inaugurated multiple development projects worth over 5,000 crore, focusing on sectors like - oil and gas; BPCL's City Gas Distribution project in Bankura and Purulia districts, worth 1,950 crore, retrofitting pollution control systems at Durgapur Steel Thermal Power Station and Raghunathpur Thermal Power Station, doubling of the Purulia-Kotshila rail line, worth 390 crore and inauguration of two road overbridges built under the Setu Bharatam scheme. (ANI)