Source The Hindu
SINGUR, WEST BENGAL — Launching a scathing attack on the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday asserted that industrial growth and significant investment will remain elusive for West Bengal as long as the current administration stays in power.
Addressing a massive public rally in Singur—a location historically synonymous with the state’s industrial struggles—the Prime Minister framed the upcoming 2026 Assembly elections as a choice between “Maha-Jungle Raj” and “Asol Poriborton” (real change).
Focus on Law and Order
Linking the lack of investment directly to the state’s security situation, the Prime Minister alleged that the TMC has allowed “rioters, looters, and the mafia” to operate with impunity.
“Industries will be established in Bengal and investments will come only when law and order improves here,” PM Modi said. “But in Bengal, rioters and mafias have been given free rein. There is a ‘syndicate tax’ on every development project. No investor will risk their capital in an environment where the police are hand-in-glove with criminals.”
The Symbolism of Singur
The choice of Singur for the rally was highly symbolic. Once the site of the ill-fated Tata Nano project, which was abandoned in 2008 following anti-land acquisition protests led by Mamata Banerjee, the area has since become a focal point for debates over Bengal’s “de-industrialization.”
PM Modi used the backdrop to contrast the BJP’s “double-engine government” model with the TMC’s governance, promising that a BJP-led state would restore investor confidence and “bring back the glory” of Bengal’s industrial past.
Infiltration and National Security
Beyond economics, the Prime Minister accused the Mamata Banerjee government of “playing with national security” by protecting illegal infiltrators for the sake of vote-bank politics. He alleged that the state government had consistently stalled the Centre’s efforts to complete border fencing and had facilitated the creation of fake documents for illegal immigrants.
Key Highlights of the Visit:
Infrastructure Push: The PM inaugurated development projects worth over ₹830 crore.
Connectivity: Flagged off three Amrit Bharat trains to improve connectivity between Kolkata and the rest of India.
Social Schemes: Accused the TMC of blocking central welfare schemes, including Ayushman Bharat and digital platforms for fishermen.
With the Assembly polls just months away, the Prime Minister’s remarks signal a high-octane campaign focused on the twin pillars of security and economic revival.
