‘He is coming back to power’: Shah slams Mamata over ‘don’t consider Modi as PM’ remark

BJP chief Amit Shah on Tuesday tore into Trinamool Congress over its chief Mamata Banerjee’s ‘expiry PM’ jab at Narendra Modi during a poll rally in West Bengal today. “Do you believe in India’s Constitution or not,” Shah said while attacking Banerjee. The comment was in response to the West Bengal Chief Minister’s reported comment that she doesn’t consider Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister of the country. Banerjee had reportedly refused to meet PM Modi for a review meeting over Cyclone ‘Fani’. Slamming Banerjee, Shah also added that, “it doesn’t matter what you think. (PM) Modi is coming back to power.”

Yesterday, Banerjee had attacked PM Modi after he claimed that she didn’t return his calls over Cyclone Fani relief work. Alleging that PM Modi was trying to do politics over Cyclone 'Fani', Banerjee said "If you (Modi) think you will politicise it (cyclone) you must remember that I too understand politics." The chief minister said that in 2015, 2016 and 2017 there were floods in the state but no relief was given to it by the Modi government despite several demands by her. "He (Modi) wants us to go to Jhargram (where he held a public meeting Monday) to discuss the situation related to the cyclone. He will sip tea and I will have to sit beside him and have pictures clicked. Why should I go," she asked.

According to news agency PTI, Banerjee reportedly said that she was in Kharagpur when there was calls from Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on Saturday tried to contact West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to discuss cyclone Fani but could not do so as his calls were not returned, a top government official has said. The prime minister then spoke to state governor Keshari Nath Tripathi, the official said.

"Two attempts were made by the prime minister's staff to connect Modi with Banerjee over phone. On both the occasions they were told that the call would be returned. On one occasion they were told that the CM is on tour," the official said. The statement came after the Trinamool Congress hit out at Modi for not talking to Banerjee about the ground situation in the state in wake of the cyclone. The prime minister had tweeted about his discussion with the Governor.

During the Haldia rally, PM Modi alleged that, “People who hail Jai Shree Ram in Bengal are put behind the bars.” “Your one vote will pressurize Didi. Your one vote will show dynastic parties, Leftist and a tyrannical govt their right place. Your one vote will bring back the pride of Haldia. In West Bengal, people have to to pay Trinmool Tolabazi Tax. No one dared to challenge this tax and it only emboldened TMC. But now it won't last long in Bengal,” the Prime Minister added.