TMC Responds to PM Modi’s Remarks at Kolkata Rally

PTI, March 14, 2026, Kolkata : The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Saturday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of presenting a “false narrative” about employment and the overall situation in West Bengal during his rally at Brigade Parade Ground, alleging that he was acting as a BJP campaigner rather than in his capacity as Prime Minister.

TMC MP Saayoni Ghosh told a press conference that while Modi claimed to have sanctioned thousands of crores for the state's development, the Centre had actually withheld around ₹2 lakh crore of dues to the state.

“Modiji has claimed he has sanctioned ₹18,000 crore to Bengal as a ‘lollipop’. But in reality, he has blocked ₹2 lakh-crore dues to the state for various projects, from the 100 days’ work scheme to housing for the poor and drinking water supply,” she alleged.

“While Modi has failed to attend Parliament and address MPs for days, he is attending BJP meetings and coming regularly to the state before elections. He is behaving more as a BJP campaigner than the PM of the country,” she claimed.

Ghosh also rejected the Prime Minister’s remarks on employment in the state, claiming that West Bengal has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country at 3.7 per cent.

“BJP-ruled states like Uttarakhand top the unemployment figures,” she claimed.

The TMC lawmaker further alleged that the Prime Minister had ignored the concerns of farmers, noting that he did not visit the site of the farmers’ protest near New Delhi in 2022.

“The TMC government in West Bengal has provided minimum support price for products like potatoes to help farmers avoid distress sales. His narrative about Bengal falls flat,” she said.