West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee countered Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s allegation that she was the speed-breaker in the path of the development in the state by claiming that farmer income increased and unemployment decreased during her rule.

Addressing a rally at Dinhata in Cooch Behar district on Wednesday, the Trinamool Congress chief also mocked the PM calling him “expiry babu” and challenged him to a “direct debate” on TV or at a public rally.

Claiming that 12,000 farmers committed suicide under Modi’s rule, Banerjee said that the income of farmers in Bengal has increased three times under TMC.

“We have reduced unemployment by 40 per cent,” she said while adding that joblessness has only grown under the Modi government.

“I am not Modi, I don’t tell lies,” she said, alleging that the Prime Minister has made false claims about performance of her government.

At the rally, which was rescheduled to help Banerjee respond to PM’s charges, the TMC chief challenged that the PM to get even one vote in Bengal.

She also raised the NRC issue, telling the gathering that BJP government is trying to chase out Hindus, Muslims and everyone else so that “PM Modi can rule all alone”.

Banerjee also claimed that the NRC will not allow the refugees to have a voter ID card for 6 years.

“They (BJP government) will make you a foreigner for 6 years,” she said, adding, “If the party comes to power again, no one will have any rights left. They will change the Constitution. They will not let any election happen.”

She also accused the Modi government of looting public money through policies such as demonetisation.

The mercurial Bengal CM also issued an open challenge to the BJP. “They cannot threaten me. Catch me if you can, Modi,” she said as her supporters cheered.

Telling people not to vote for the BJP, she said that the PM is building a personality cult centred on him.

“They have opened NaMo shops and now are opening NaMo TV. He (PM Modi) respects no one,” she said.

Commenting on the incidents of violence across the country, Banerjee said she “does not believe in the Hindu religion which kills others”.

We believe in Swami Vivekanada’s Hinduism, Ramakrishna Paramhamsa’s; I do Chandi Path. I will bow to Ma but not offer Salam to your Amma – my parents didn’t teach me this,” she said, adding that Bengal’s culture is different.

Earlier today, PM Modi launched a scathing attack on Banerjee in West Bengal’s Siliguri.

Addressing a massive rally in this part of north Bengal, the PM took jibes at the Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief saying that she is the speed-breaker in the path of the state’s progress.

“There is a speed-breaker in West Bengal which you know by the name of ‘Didi’. This ‘Didi’ is the speed-breaker in your development,” Modi said, as the sea of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supporters cheered in support.

Read More: Didi is speed-breaker on path of your development: PM Modi in Bengal’s Siliguri

Expressing his gratitude to the people who came to attend the rally, the PM said that the massive turnout is proof that “Didi’s boat has sunk”.

The PM said that people will have to vote Banerjee out of power to ensure that the Centre’s development schemes reach the state.