The BJP MLAs in West Bengal assembly, on Friday, broke into a chant, ‘Modi-Modi’ alleging that a minister in the state government, who was speaking in the House, had made a personal attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The incident occurred when Pradip Mazumdar, minister, department of panchayats & rural development, spoke, participating in the discussion concerning demand for grant for the department. Mazumdar while explaining that despite the state having made attempts, more than other states, at meeting Centre’s conditions for funds, it stands deprived on several fronts.
Mazumdar later told Deccan Herald that while speaking he was pointing out that in depriving the poor, ‘their’ (probably hinting at the party in power, at the Centre) mindset has reached such a level that they are trying to get rid of the poor, instead of the poverty. With this kind of mindset, despite there being a debt of 620 billion dollars (on the country), one can wear a diamond-studded dress and go to America (The USA). “I did not name (anyone),” he said.
While Mazumdar spoke in the above context, the BJP MLAs felt the uttering to be inappropriate, following which the ‘Modi-Modi’ slogans began to be raised. Suvendu Adhkari, BJP MLA, and Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, later, alleged that the minister concerned had made a ‘personal attack’ on the prime minister. Adhikari said that it is the duty of his party’s MLAs to protect the Prime Minister, and a reaction is natural if anyone makes a personal attack, even in the future. For the last nine minutes of the minister’s speech, the slogans were raised as a mark of protest, Adhikari said.
Published 10 March 2023, 20:11 IST