Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday delivered a sharp political attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, linking recent incidents of violence in Murshidabad and Malda to what he termed her government’s “cruelty and indifference.” Addressing a public gathering in Alipurduar after inaugurating a City Gas Distribution project, PM Modi coined the term “nirmamta” — a play on Mamata Banerjee’s name, which translates to “cruelty” in Hindi — to describe what he said was the prevailing state of governance under the Trinamool Congress (TMC) regime.

“West Bengal is facing a deep crisis. Violence and lawlessness are becoming routine, tearing apart the social fabric. The recent incidents in Murshidabad and Malda are heartbreaking examples of how the ruling party has turned its back on the people,” said Modi. He accused the TMC of prioritising political survival over public safety, saying that the state government has failed to respond adequately to the growing unrest. “This isn’t governance, it’s indifference. The people of Bengal deserve better,” he added. The Prime Minister’s remarks come amid heightened political tensions in the state, where opposition parties have repeatedly raised concerns over alleged political violence and deteriorating law and order.

The TMC has yet to respond formally to the Prime Minister’s comments, but party insiders suggest the leadership views them as politically motivated ahead of the upcoming elections. The political significance of Modi’s address was further underscored by his choice of platform — a government infrastructure project — from where he pivoted sharply to matters of governance and public safety, clearly aiming to rally public sentiment. As West Bengal approaches the next phase of polling, such confrontational exchanges between the BJP and TMC are expected to intensify.