'Mamata Banerjee would have bought PM post if it was up for auction': PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday mocked Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee for dreaming of becoming the PM and said she would have bought the post with the money looted from chit fund scams had it been up for auction.

The country needs a government with "vision and not division", PM Modi said "It was with the power of your vote that the army could conduct surgical strikes".

Addressing a poll rally in Asansol, the prime minister said "she (Banerjee) is dreaming of becoming prime minister and had this position been up for auction both she and the Congress would have bought it with the money looted by them.”

Referring to the chit fund scams in Bengal, PM Modi said that people will suffer when the chief minister of their state is seen hobnobbing and standing in favour of those who are involved in scams.

"Corruption and crime are two non-stop things in Bengal in the TMC regime," he said.

Continuing his attack against Banerjee, the prime minister said "Mamata didi had earlier turned the infiltrators into her cadres and now she is brought in foreigners to campaign for her party. Mamatadi should be ashamed," he said.

PM Modi said "Mamata didi wants to implement her tolabaji tax model of development across the country. But we will never allow that to happen".

Banerjee abusing him and getting angry with the Election Commission is a reflection of her frustration in the face of imminent defeat in the Lok Sabha polls, he added.

Earlier in the day, addressing two election rallies in Odisha’s Kendrapara and Balasore, PM Modi hit out at the Congress for not testing the anti-satellite missile despite having the capability as the previous governments were only concerned about serving the interest of a "namdar" (dynast) family and not the country's security.

PM Modi asserted that the Congress and opposition parties are spending sleepless nights as the 'lahar' (wave) for the BJP has become a 'lalkar' (challenge) for them after the first two phases of elections.

This was Modi’s sixth election programme in Odisha where the saffron party is trying to increase its tally significantly. Odisha has a total of 21 Lok Sabha seats.

"Balasore's name has been recorded in history, the anti-satellite missile was launched from this place. The previous governments had shied away from demonstrating the country's defence capability as they were busy serving the interests of a 'namdar' family," the prime minister said.

Asserting that India is now the fourth country in the world to have carried out the anti-satellite missile test, Modi said, "We have emerged as a space super power after having achieved supremacy on land, in water and air."

Hitting out at the opposition parties, he said, "While the whole country is rejoicing the success of the Mission Shakti, it is pinching the mahamilawatis (adulterated grouping) who are unhappy."

"From mobile to missile, everything is now controlled from the space. Therefore, space security is essential, a fact that was ignored by previous governments," he stated.

Modi also hit out at opponents for criticising him after he announced the successful launch of the anti-satellite missile.

"Opposition parties argue that Modi should have kept it (successful test) a secret. Friends, why should we keep it a secret? Did we commit a theft? Did we acomplish the feat by looting anyone? Have we harmed anyone?," he said.

(With PTI inputs)