Mamata Banerjee 'speed breaker' in West Bengal's development: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, terming her "speed breaker" in the state development. Addressing a rally in Siliguri, the prime minister accused Banerjee of putting a break on the development of 70 lakh West Bengal's farmers by not implementing Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana - a scheme that provides Rs 6,000 annually to small peasants.

"There is a speed breaker in West Bengal, you people call her 'Didi'. This 'Didi' is the speed breaker of your development. 'Didi' had put breaks on the development of over 70 lakh farmer families. In all the states of the country, money is directly being transferred to the bank account of farmers under the Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana. But she has put breaks on the scheme," Modi told a gathering in Siliguri.

The prime minister also slammed the West Bengal chief minister for asking for proof of Balakot strike in which Indian Air Force destroyed Jaish-e-Mohammed camps inside the Pakistani territory.

When our soldiers came back from Balakot, someone else was crying instead of those who were supposed to cry. The pain should have been in Islamabad and Rawalpindi but Didi who was sitting in Kolkata was suffering. She said 

"When our young men came back to Balakot, there was someone crying and someone else was crying. The pain should have been in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. But the pain that was sitting here in Kolkata was happening to her sister. He said why did Modi do this and asked for proof," the prime minister said.

Terming himself a 'chowkidar', Modi said that despite several hurdles he continued to work for the betterment of the state. "Even after facing a lot of hindrances, your 'chowkidar' (watchman) is constantly working for the development of West Bengal. This 'chaiwala' is also fully devoted to those working in tea gardens of the state," he added.