TMC lashes out at Modi, blames his politics for LPG crisis, price rise pain

Kolkata: Trinamool on Saturday launched a sharp counterattack on PM Narendra Modi following his rally at the Brigade Parade Ground, accusing him of prioritising politics in Bengal, forcing people to queue up for LPGs and battle price rise.

TMC MP Saayoni Ghosh alleged that large quantities of LPG cylinders were used for BJP's rally even as households and eateries struggled to secure gas supplies amid soaring prices.




"Parliament is discussing the LPG crisis and price hikes during the Budget session, yet the Prime Minister is attending a political meeting in Bengal. Restaurants are shutting down. Cooking has stopped in many homes. But 250 LPG cylinders are being used at BJP's Brigade rally to fry jalebi and kachori," she said.

State education minister Bratya Basu also criticised the PM for addressing a political rally instead of participating in the parliamentary debate on the issue.

"Even though there is distress in Bengal, CM Mamata Banerjee has ensured that LPG supplies continue and the mid-day meal scheme is running. But what is our PM doing? While the country is going through such a crisis, he should have been in Parliament discussing the issue and finding a solution. Instead, he has come here to engage in vote-bank politics," Basu said.

In a series of social media posts, TMC accused BJP of enjoying privileged access to LPG cylinders while ordinary citizens faced shortages.

"Before Narendra Modi stands at Brigade and shouts ‘paltano dorkar', let him first change the soaring price of LPG. Before lecturing Bengal about ‘poriborton', he should change the reality where ordinary people stand in endless queues just to keep their kitchen fires burning," TMC posted on X.

Trinamool also accused the Centre of withholding funds owed to the state. Ghosh claimed that while the PM highlighted development projects worth Rs 18,000 crore for Bengal during his speech, dues running into far larger sums remained unpaid.

"The PM said projects worth Rs 18,000 crore have been given to Bengal. But Rs 2 lakh crore owed to the state has not been released. He is offering a ‘lollipop' and claiming that he stands with Bengal," she said.

Ghosh targeted the BJP over issues ranging from women's safety to governance. "The top five most unsafe states and cities are all governed by BJP. Yet you are delivering speeches about women's safety. Crimes against women have increased under your governance. The President has not cleared the Aparajita anti-rape bill because she is not acting as the country's President — she is acting as BJP's president," she said.

Basu also questioned the functioning of the Election Commission, alleging that the institution was operating under political pressure. "The Election Commission has become the Election Commission of BJP," Basu said, referring to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. "After deleting 63 lakh names, putting 60 lakh more under adjudication and claiming nearly 200 innocent lives, how many Bangladeshis and Rohingya have actually been detected through SIR?" he asked.

Taking a dig at the Centre's foreign policy, Basu also criticised the PM for what he described was selective assertiveness on the global stage.

"The PM is displaying bravado after coming to Bengal, but you do not show the same in front of Donald Trump. Leaders of other countries are telling us from whom to buy oil, at what price and with whom we should maintain friendship. Yet, you have no voice there," Basu said.