TMC slams PM Modi for pushing bill 'in the dead of the night', demands answers during Bengal visit

TMC's Mahua Moitra

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in West Bengal on Friday to launch projects worth Rs 5,200 crore, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) accused the Centre of pushing controversial bills “in the dead of the night” and raised questions over funds withheld from the state.

In a video message on X, TMC MP Mahua Moitra said the prime minister is coming to the state in the "election season" like a "migratory bird".

“Hello Modiji – welcome to Bengal! We love election season because of how often you start visiting us. Do answer these five questions on your trip today right after your Bihar visit,” Moitra said.

The first question she raised was on the Centre introducing a constitutional amendment bill that seeks the removal of the prime minister, chief ministers and ministers if they are arrested for more than 30 days on serious charges.

“You brought this bill on the second last day of Parliament, in the dead of the night. What moral authority do you have to push a law that could topple Opposition-ruled states without a conviction or trial?” she asked, pointing out that only eight of 5,900 Enforcement Directorate (ED) cases in the past decade have led to convictions.

Moitra also targeted the BJP over “washing machine politics”, claiming that leaders joining the party get relief from criminal cases. “Twenty-three out of 25 politicians who crossed over to you have had their records wiped clean,” she said, adding that 94 of the BJP’s 240 MPs face criminal charges, and 28 ministers in the cabinet have cases against them.

Her second question was on alleged discrepancies in Bihar’s electoral rolls during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. “If the rolls were so faulty, why isn’t the Lok Sabha being dissolved and fresh elections are not being called?” she asked.

For the third question, Moitra hit out at the Delhi Police for allegedly terming Bangla as a Bangladeshi language. “Why don’t you have the courage to say on Bengal’s soil that Bangla is an Indian language?” she said.

She further accused the BJP of harassment of Bengalis in saffron-ruled states and demanded an explanation.

Finally, Moitra alleged that the Centre owes West Bengal Rs 1.83 lakh crore, claiming funds under MGNREGS, PM Awas Yojana, PM Gram Sadak Yojana, and Jal Jeevan Mission have been blocked.

“Please, we welcome you to Bengal, but we also want answers,” she said.