Durgapur, West Bengal — Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday accused the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government of shielding those involved in the rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, a case that sparked national outrage.
“The atrocities against women in West Bengal are painful and make me angry,” PM Modi said at a public rally in Durgapur.
He referenced the case of Sanjoy Roy, a former civic volunteer with the Kolkata Police, who was convicted for the crime and sentenced to life imprisonment.
🗣️ Accusations and Bengal Pride
Modi alleged that the state government failed to act decisively and “protected the culprit.” Shifting focus to the issue of Bengali identity, he also accused the TMC, Congress, and Left of ignoring Bengali linguistic pride:
“They never considered recognising Bangla as a classical language. The BJP did, because for us, Bengali ‘ashmita’ (identity) is supreme,” he said.
📍 Backdrop of Political Tension
His remarks came two days after CM Mamata Banerjee led a protest march in Kolkata, claiming that Bengali-speaking migrant workers were being unfairly targeted in BJP-ruled states based on secret directives from the Centre.
With West Bengal’s assembly elections scheduled for 2026, Modi stepped up his rhetoric:
“The day this wall of the TMC government falls, from that day Bengal will catch a new pace of development,” he said, adding,
“Only when the TMC government goes will real change come.”
🔧 Development Pitch to Youth
Modi also sought to connect with Bengal’s youth and industrialists:
“I want to assure the youth that Bengal’s current problems can be fixed. Once a new government is formed, the state can grow into a leading industrial hub in the country.”