NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday stepped up his poll pitch by pushing for women-centric incentives and welfare schemes, while also sharpening his attack on the Trinamool Congress (TMC) over the women’s reservation bill, alleging that the party opposed greater political representation for women and worked against the passage of the 33 per cent quota legislation.Addressing a rally in Bengal’s Bankura, promising incentives like financial support to pregnant women, PM urged people to vote for BJP. “If a BJP government is formed in Bengal, women will receive free treatment upto Rs 5 lakhs. If someone in a woman’s family has kidney disease? They will also receive free dialysis in government hospitals. It won’t cost a single rupee,” he said.
Further taking a jab at the Bengal govt, he added, “The women of Bengal wanted 33% reservation. Modi ensured this… but TMC did not want more of Bengal’s daughters to become MLAs and MPs,” he said, alleging that the party in collusion with Congress “conspired” to block the legislation and calling it a reflection of what he described as “Maha Jungle Raj” in the state.PM, then said the BJP’s core political identity rests on women’s empowerment and safety. Further taking jab over the bill’s failure in Lok Sabha, he added that opposition parties had “betrayed the sisters of Bengal yet again” by stalling the bill in Parliament.Targeting the state government on governance and welfare delivery, the Prime Minister said the BJP prioritises “the safety of sisters, the respect of mothers and sisters, and your prosperity.” He alleged that women in Bengal were not receiving benefits comparable to BJP-ruled states, and promised that a change in government would ensure stronger welfare delivery, including free ration support for poor women.“The sisters of Bengal will receive Rs 36,000 every year. Pregnant women will be given Rs 21,000. The central government will also provide Rs 5,000 to sisters after they have a child, for the education of their daughters. Rs 50,000 will be provided… Under the Mudra scheme, women will receive Rs 20 lakh for self-employment. Women involved in agriculture will receive an additional Rs 9,000 annually… BJP’s double-engine government is going to give a double mandate to the sisters of Bengal,” he added.PM Modi also used the rally turnout to underline growing public sentiment, saying the crowds reflected both enthusiasm and anger. He hailed the crowd, adding that “this atmosphere… also symbolise the anger against the ruthless government,” while claiming that public support for the BJP was expanding across the state.
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Escalating his political attack, the Prime minister also alleged that the TMC harboured hostility towards tribal women and girls, and cited the election of president Droupadi Murmu as an example of the BJP’s commitment to empowering marginalised communities. He said rival parties had opposed her rise, adding that she now represents India on the global stage.
