MIDNAPORE: Prime Minister Narendra in his 40-minute 'kisan rally' lambasted West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool leader Mamata Banerjee and blamed the government for 'patronising a syndicate raj' to control every sphere of people's life, scaring away investment and even putting 'pujas in danger'.
"The political syndicate is reducing the great land of Bengal to new lows and insulting its heritage. Nothing works without the syndicate's approval. Want to do business? Seek syndicate's approval. Want to sell products? Syndicate dictates price. Even college admissions don't work without it," he said. "They (state government) speak of ma, maati (land) and manush (people) but their real face has been exposed."
99 hurt in tent collapse
At least 99 people were injured after a portion of the tent collapsed during Modi’s rally in Bengal's Paschim Midnapore. The injured have been admitted to a hospital, said an official. Later, a visibly emotional Prime Minister visited those injured in the hospital. A makeshift tent was constructed near the main entrance of the Kisan rally to shelter people from the rain. It collapsed while PM Modi was delivering his speech. According to officials, PM Modi saw the tent collapsing while he was in the middle of his speech. He immediately instructed SPG personnel standing next to him to look after the people and attend to the injured. The local BJP unit as well as Modi's personal staff, including his doctor and SPG personnel, swung into action to help the injured, officials said.
