With the election campaign getting more and more churlish by the day, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Monday asserted her state will play a major role in dislodging the "fascist, liar and dacoit" prime minister and forming the next government.
The BJP promptly hit back, claiming it reflected her "frustration" and that the people will give a "befitting" reply to her in the elections.
She also said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should be "thrown out of power and politics" and his mouth sealed with a surgical adhesive tape for "telling lies".
Banerjee mocked Modi over films and television serials based on his life, saying he thought he was a "bigger public figure than Mahatma Gandhi and B R Ambekdar".
"Bengal will play the lead role in throwing out this fascist government and forming the next government. The chai wala-turned chowkidar is arrogant, a fascist and a liar, who needs to be dislodged immediately," Banerjee told a public meeting at Coochbehar in north Bengal.
She said the 'chaiwala' could not keep his promise of opening the closed tea gardens and has now become a 'chowkidar'.
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"But he will not be successful in this also. Chowkidar jhoota (liar) hai, chowkidar lootera (robber) hai. He is selling the country in the guise of a chowkidar.
"He claims to be the chowkidar now. Five years ago he was chaiwala. People are saying chowkidar chor hai. I will say, chowkidar is jhootha," she said.
Attacking the prime minister at another rally at Nagrakata in Jalpaiguri district, also in north Bengal, Banerjee called him a "dacoit and liar chowkidar" who looted public money during demonetisation.
"In this election, people would stick a Leukoplast on his lips so that he is not able to tell lies. For the sake of the country he should not only be ousted from his chair but also from politics," she said.
West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh reacted sharply to her comments and referred to Modi's recent remarks against the Trinamool Congress leader.
"Narendra Modi said on Sunday that Mamata Banerjee's comments reflected her frustration, as she is well aware that she is fast losing her political ground. In such a situation, it is quite obvious that she will lose her cool. It has happened here," Ghosh said.
When asked whether the BJP would lodge a complaint with the Election Commission over Banerjee's comments, Ghosh said there was no need and asserted the people of the state will give her a "befitting reply".
Addressing the rallies, Banerjee also accused Modi of neglecting farmers and the middle class, as he was busy "globe-trotting".
"In the name of demonetisation, he looted public money, and now ahead of the elections he is acting as the chowkidar. This chowkidar is a 'lootera and jhootha'. He is using public money in elections. After looting the country, he is promising Rs 1000, Rs 2000 to farmers," she said.
She also took on the BJP for promising to replicate Assam's contentious National Register of Citizens (NRC) in West Bengal.
"They are threatening to throw people out of Bengal in the name of NRC. I dare them to even touch one person, we will show them their place," she said.
At an election rally in West Bengal a few days ago, BJP chief Amit Shah had said his party's government will introduce NRC in the state to throw out infiltrators.
Criticising the BJP manifesto, which promised bringing in Citizenship (Amendment) Bill afresh to drive out illegal migrants, Banerjee cautioned the people, saying if Modi became the prime minister again, he will turn "legal citizens into refugees".
"If you vote for them (BJP), they will turn you all into refugees in your own country. We will never allow NRC and the Citizenship Bill in our state," she said.
"Under the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, you will lose your citizenship for six years. Then, if they want, they will give you citizenship. Why? You are already (Indian) citizens. Those who came to India before March 25, 1971, are all citizens of India," the TMC supremo said.
She also listed out major projects undertaken by her in West Bengal as railway minister and the chief minister.
"They (the BJP and Modi) are seasonal birds who can be seen only during elections. We are working for the people round the year. Where were you for the last 5 years?" she said.
If Modi has done as much work as he claims, what is the need for making movies and television serials on him? she asked.
Banerjee accused the BJP of trying to foment communal tension and asked people not to fall into its "trap".
She also alleged that the BJP was offering money to people to attend its rallies and vote for the party.
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