West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Monday termed Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the ‘greatest danger’ for India and said she will give her life to ensure that no riot takes place in the state. She alleged the BJP is targeting her nephew and Diamond Harbour parliamentary constituency Trinamool Congress candidate Abhishek Banerjee and is ready to splurge to orchestrate a riot in the area.
"It is Modi's target to start a riot at Diamond Harbour. He is ready to splurge any amount for the purpose," Mamata alleged at a poll rally in support of her nephew at Metiabruz in south western part of Kolkata city ahead of the final round of polls in the state on May 19. "Where will the country go if Narendra Modi comes to power again? He is the greatest danger of the country. West Bengal is a place where all religions co-exist. I will give my life to see that no riot takes place in the state", she said.
Hitting back at her critics who have blamed her for minority appeasement, Mamata said "people accuse me of appeasing Muslims. What do you mean by appeasement? Muslims are also people of the state. What nasty politics is BJP doing?" Metiabruz is a predominantly Muslim area, historically the place where the last Nawab of Awadh Wajid Ali Shah was exiled by the British. Known as the second Lucknow, it is famous for its large tailor community who supply readymade garments to traders across east India.
At Birlapur in South 24 Parganas, she said that Modi should be "thrown out of power" to save the country. "We (TMC) want all the 42 parliamentary seats in West Bengal so that TMC can have a say in the formation of the Delhi government", she said.