Didi on Modi: Unfit to rule

TT, Calcutta: Mamata Banerjee on Saturday called Narendra Modi "Fascist and Hitler-esque who is unfit to lead the country", launching a fierce counter-attack hours after the Prime Minister targeted her and her government at rallies in Bengal.

The chief minister and alleged that the likes of Rajnath Singh were themselves trapped in the BJP's "reign of terror".

In a telephone interview to ABP Ananda, the Trinamul chief called the BJP a party of "rank outsiders" with "zero idea" about Bengal. She said the likes of Modi and Rajnath should first worry about wining their own Lok Sabha seats before thinking about Bengal. Rajnath claimed on Saturday that the state was not providing land for fencing the border with Bangladesh.

"Ask Narendra Modi to worry about Delhi first. Will he be able to win from Varanasi? What about Lucknow (Rajnath's constituency)? This Yogi (Adityanath) he should worry about his own state (Uttar Pradesh) first…. These rank outsiders should stop thinking about Bengal and mind their own business." According to the chief minister, Modi feared Bengal would lead the country in bring- ing about a change of guard at the Centre. She said Modi was spending sleepless nights since her United India rally on January 19 at the Brigade Parade Grounds in Calcutta.

"What choice do Rajnathji or (Nitin) Gadkariji have? They are trapped.... Even in the BJP, there are people in the grip of this reign of terror," she said.

The Trinamul chief brought up the Gujarat riots of 2002, when Modi was chief minister, and accused the BJP of destroying the country with its divisive agenda. "Democracy is under threat. (Probe) agencies are being misused. Political opponents are being targeted.... A Fascist, Hitleresque, he lacks humanity. Unfit to rule this country, unfit for politics.... His arrogance will end soon," she said.

Responding to a question on Modi's "syndicate" jab at one of his rallies, Mamata said: "People are tired of riot syndicate, lynching syndicate, gau rakshak (bovine vigilante) syndicate. He is the leader of syndicate of agencies." Mamata then sought to contrast the current BJP with that of the past. "I respected Atalji. But many current BJP leaders are not worthy of respect.... Demonetisation is a big scam. Jan Dhan is a big scam. Rafale is a big scam.... The Opposition has one aim: Modi hatao, desh bachao."