Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his early morning boat ride on the Hooghly River, challenging him to take a dip in the Yamuna in Delhi. "Our Ganga is clean. That is why the PM could enjoy the boat ride. Can he do the same in [Delhi's] Yamuna?" she said while addressing an election meeting in Howrah.
CM Calls Boat Ride a Photo-Op
Dubbing the PM's boat ride a photo-op, Banerjee said, "This is election politics, photo-shopping. You took a boat ride on the Ganga, that's fine, you are welcome. I also go to Chandannagar; I go to Ganga Sagar too. But I challenge you — will you go to the Yamuna in Delhi and take a dip? The Yamuna in Delhi is completely polluted. You cannot manage the Yamuna in Delhi, yet you come to our Ganga and take photos."
Later in the day, while addressing a rally in the Port area, Banerjee again said, "He [the PM] should do a comparison between Bengal's Ganga and Delhi's Yamuna. Our Ganga is clean, that is why he could indulge in a boat ride. The event was nothing but a photo-op for political gain."
Jhal-Muri Stopover Staged, Says Mamata
The CM also called the PM's jhal-muri stopover in Jhargram a "totally staged act". "That jhal-muri was prepared beforehand. Cameras were placed inside the shop. Is it believable that he carries a Rs 10 note with him? If you really love Bengal, will you try our fish-and-rice once? I will cook it for you," she said.
Abhishek Banerjee Calls PM Modi Bengal's Biggest Brand Ambassador
Trinamool national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, addressing another public meeting, called PM Modi "Bengal's biggest brand ambassador". "Why do they come only during the polls? They should come to Bengal throughout the year. Come to Bengal and enjoy the delicacies here. Have phuchka, jhalmuri... Because the PM travelled and made reels, people now know how beautiful Bengal is and the development the Mamata Banerjee gov has done here. Had he not campaigned like this, would people have seen how the rivers of Bengal are so clean and beautiful, or how the roads of Jhargram are so nice? The biggest brand ambassador for the state's tourism is PM Modi," he said.
Abhishek added, "The place where the PM was eating jhal muri was built by Jhargram Municipality. The person selling the muri said he is from Bihar, where BJP is in power, and he has come to Bengal for his livelihood. What will you tell them? They are only revealing their own lies."
The Trinamool Congress leaders have consistently targeted the BJP over the condition of the Yamuna in Delhi, contrasting it with Bengal's rivers. Banerjee's remarks come ahead of the upcoming elections, with both parties intensifying their campaigns.
