PM Modi Intensifies Attack on TMC Over Malda Judicial Officers Incident
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing critique of the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal during a BJP election rally in Cooch Behar on Sunday, citing the recent confinement of seven judicial officers on Special Intensive Revision (SIR) duty in Malda district as concrete evidence of what he described as a collapsing law-and-order situation in the state.
"Jungle Raj" and Constitutional Safety Concerns
"Citizens across the country were shocked at how judicial officers were held hostage in Malda," Modi declared to the assembled crowd. "What kind of a government is this where even judges and constitutional authorities aren't safe? If they're not safe, how can ordinary people feel secure?"
The Prime Minister characterized the situation as "a state of jungle raj" that had deteriorated to such an extent that the Supreme Court had to intervene. The incident occurred last week in Kaliachak subdivision when judicial magistrates were gheraoed at a block office during protests linked to electoral roll revision, turning Malda in north Bengal into a significant political flashpoint.
Infiltration and Demographic Transformation Allegations
Modi connected the law-and-order concerns directly to cross-border infiltration issues, stating that the SIR of electoral rolls is specifically aimed at identifying "illegal settlers" and removing their names from voter lists.
"Bengal's demography has undergone a dangerous transformation in the 15 years of TMC government," he asserted. "TMC has allowed infiltrators to enter Bengal and absorbed them into its syndicate network. That is why the government of India is identifying infiltrators and taking systematic steps to remove them."
The Prime Minister accused the TMC government of opposing the SIR process and "threatening to scrap" the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) specifically to protect infiltrators, alleging that this approach undermines the rights of legally settled Hindu citizens in the state.
Questioning Cultural Representation and Issuing Warnings
In a pointed cultural critique, Modi questioned TMC's choice of naming its manifesto "Ishtehar" rather than using a Bengali word. "Instead of using a Bengali term, they have employed 'ishtehar,' which raises serious questions about how they are representing Bengal's authentic identity," he remarked.
The Prime Minister issued a stern warning directed at TMC functionaries: "You must trust the law on the day of voting... Ebar Bangla theke bhoy palabe (this time fear will disappear from Bengal). After this election, there will be full accountability for their actions... chun chun ke hisaab kiya jayega (each will be held accountable individually)."
Ongoing Investigations and Administrative Actions
Meanwhile, in Malda district, authorities have initiated disciplinary action against an additional district magistrate over alleged dereliction of duty during the Kaliachak gherao incident. Simultaneously, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) continues its probe into the matter, examining the broader implications of the confrontation involving judicial officers.
The Prime Minister's remarks represent a significant escalation in the political rhetoric surrounding West Bengal's governance and security landscape, framing the judicial officers' confinement as symptomatic of deeper systemic failures under the current administration.
