‘Maha Jungle Raj’: PM Modi flags infiltration, hits out at TMC in Bengal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday urged West Bengal to free itself from what he described as the “Maha Jungle Raj” under the Trinamool Congress (TMC), drawing a parallel with Bihar’s rejection of “Jungle Raj” in the past.

The Prime Minister was unable to attend a BJP rally at Ranaghat in West Bengal’s Nadia district due to inclement weather and dense fog. His helicopter reportedly attempted to land at the Taherpur helipad but returned to Kolkata after visibility failed to improve. Modi later addressed the rally virtually and apologised to party workers and supporters for his absence.

In a post on X, Modi said he had intended to raise several issues at the rally but was constrained by the adverse weather. Targeting the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC, the Prime Minister accused the ruling party of misgovernance and stalling development in the state.

“Just as the people of Bihar repeatedly rejected the return of Jungle Raj, the time has now come to free West Bengal from the Maha Jungle Raj prevailing here because of the TMC,” Modi said.

He said the BJP believed in “speed, scale and good governance”, while alleging that the TMC was “preoccupied with cuts and commissions”, leading to the stalling of development projects worth thousands of crores. Modi claimed that schemes linked to housing, healthcare, food security and education were not progressing due to the state government’s “non-cooperative attitude”.

Infiltration allegation

Raising the issue of illegal infiltration, Modi accused the TMC of shielding infiltrators, calling it a serious threat to the state. “Their supporters shout ‘Modi Go Back’, but remain silent when it comes to saying ‘Infiltrators Go Back’,” he said, warning people against what he described as the party’s conspiracies.

The Prime Minister said a BJP government in the state would take stricter action against infiltrators.

Development push

Highlighting infrastructure initiatives, Modi said major connectivity projects were inaugurated and foundation stones laid during the day. He said the proposed four-lane road from Barajaguli to Krishnanagar would benefit North 24 Parganas, Nadia and surrounding areas, while reducing travel time between Kolkata and Siliguri.

Invoking Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’s Vande Mataram on its 150th anniversary, Modi said the song once inspired the freedom struggle and must now motivate the nation to build a “Viksit Bharat”. Referring to law and order, the Prime Minister said the people of West Bengal had “endured a lot” in recent years and expressed concern over the condition of women in the state.

He concluded by appealing to voters to give the BJP a chance to form a “double-engine government” in West Bengal, promising development at “double the speed” ahead of the Assembly elections.