Those who “looted public funds” in West Bengal will now have to return them and face jail, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday, as he used the occasion of the Pachimbanga Divas celebrations to intensify his attack on previous governments in the state.
“Those who looted public funds in Bengal are now returning it and are being sent to jail,” Modi said while addressing a rally in Tarkeswar in Hooghly district.
In an indirect attack on the TMC, the Chief Minister accused the previous governments in the state of hindering development and forcing people to leave Bengal in search of opportunities elsewhere.
“We have witnessed how previous governments worked. They pushed Bengal back and turned it into a land of displacement,” he said, according to PTI.
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Modi claimed that development efforts have gained momentum under the current regime and West Bengal is witnessing a new sense of optimism.
“There is a new freshness in the air of Bengal as if the state is now freed from the shackles,” he said, adding, “I hope these historical divas of Pachimbanga will inspire the development of West Bengal.”
The Chief Minister also claimed that the previous state government had stopped land transfers needed for border fencing.
“The previous government in Bengal stopped the transfer of land ownership to erect a fence on the border. This process began under the current regime,” he added.
Prime Minister Modi participates in the ‘Paschimbanga Divas’ celebration.
During the programme, Modi participated in Paschimbanga Divas celebrations and issued the 23rd batch of PM-Kisan scheme, conveying over $18,880 crore to over 9.44 crore beneficiaries across the country.
The event was attended by Opposition Leader Suvendu Adhikari, lawmakers, government officials and members of the public.
Modi also launched, inaugurated and laid foundation stones for projects in railways, agriculture, rural development, fisheries and animal husbandry sectors.
Among the major announcements was the launch of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) in West Bengal. The program is expected to provide insurance coverage to nearly 50,000 farmers across about 14,000 hectares of agricultural land in the state during the period 2026-27, with crops of estimated value $Rs 28,140 crore has been covered under the programme.
The Prime Minister also dedicated his efforts to the nation and laid the foundation stone for railway projects worth approx $590 Crores.
In addition, he inaugurated 49 road infrastructure projects under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY-III), covering more than 315 km across various districts of West Bengal.
(With inputs from PTI)
