Modi writes to voters in Bengal, seeks ‘well thought out mandate’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has written a letter to the people of West Bengal, appealing to join what he described as a decisive development journey for the state, just months ahead of the Assembly elections.

Issued in both Bengali and Hindi, the letter outlines the Prime Minister’s appeal to the electorate and presents the BJP’s development vision for West Bengal. “Only a few more months, and then the fate of West Bengal will be decided,” Mr Modi wrote, urging voters to take a “well thought out decision” that would determine the course of the next generation. In his letter, the Prime Minister recalled that in the post-Independence period, West Bengal was the economic leader of the country and a pioneer of industrialisation.

Advertisement

Mr Modi alleged that the “irreparable damage” suffered over the past six decades due to mismanagement and appeasement politics is “indescribable”. He claimed that on the one hand, the youth are being forced to migrate to other states because of a lack of employment opportunities, while on the other, “mothers and sisters” of the state live in fear due to concerns over security. Referring to the Bengal envisioned by Swami Vivekananda and Sri Aurobindo, Mr Modi said the present situation ~ marked, in his words, by narrow vote bank politics, violence and anarchy ~ was deeply painful to him and to the people of the state.

Concluding his letter, Mr Modi said West Bengal remains an integral part of the country owing to the tireless efforts of Syama Prasad Mukherjee, whom he described as a heroic son of Mother India.