Mamata Banerjee slams PM Modi over allegations against her government, says "if they have guts, go into elections tomorrow"

Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], May 29 (ANI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his allegations against her government including the teacher recruitment scam and said the state government will respect the verdict of court and find some solution.
She accused the BJP of trying to politicise Operation Sindoor and said such remarks are being made when all-party delegations are visiting partner countries.
Mamata Banerjee held a press conference hours after PM Modi's rally in Alipurduar and countered the allegations.
"What Modi ji said today, we are not only shocked but also very sad to hear this, when the Opposition is representing the country...In his presence his minister said that they will do Operation Bengal, like Operation Sindoor. I challenge them - if they have guts, go into elections tomorrow, we are ready and Bengal is ready to accept your challenge. But please remember, time is a factor. You must remember the time. Our representative Abhishek Banerjee is also in the team," she said.
"And he is speaking every day against terrorism, against terror. At that time, Mr Modi, not as the PM but as the BJP president, you are criticising the Government (in Bengal) which is giving you full support, defending the country like anything. You are accusing the Government and you want to blame the Opposition at this time, at this hour to politicise things just like the leader of BJP Jumla Party...You are doing garbage of lies. They loot the country and scoot. It doesn't look nice to talk in this manner. Regarding Operation Sindoor, though I don't have any comments but please remember every woman has respect," she added.
The Trinamool Congress chief also hit out at BJP over "Vyapam scam" in Madhya Pradesh.
"You are talking about the SSC teachers. Who did it? Did we do it or jobs were lost in the court case? Who did the court case, CPM and BJP. What happened in your Vyapam Scam? How many people died because of this in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh? In Tripura, your government removed over 10,000 teachers. In UP 69,000 teachers lost thier jobs. We have humanity. We will find out some solution. We will respect the verdict of Court and we will work according to our schemes and policies. Let the Court work impartially," she said.
She further said that the PM spoke about roads and homes and asked if he gave money to improve infrastructure.
"Did he give the money to built homes? Did he give the money for 100 days of work under MGNREGA? We made over two lakh rural roads. Between last year and this year, we made over 40,000 km long rural roads through state funds. We had to pay for funds under the MGNREGA scheme. We started the 'Banglar Bari (Gramin)' scheme. First, we gave 47 lakh houses when funds were rolled out in 60:40 ratio...why have you stopped the payment for 'Banglar Bari' since last 4 years? Still we have facilitated 28 lakh housing units in last 1-1.5 years," she said.
"You just want to damage Bengal's education system, healthcare, and economy. Your friends - central agencies - are here to intimidate people. Is this not big-scale corruption?," she asked.
She also alleged that the BJP is responsible for the incidents in Murshidabad and Malda.
Addressing PM Modi in Alipurduar said the youth and poor families suffer the worst consequences of corruption. He alleged that the education system of West Bengal is being ruined.
"We saw how corruption ruins everything in the teacher recruitment scam. The TMC government in their tenure destroyed the future and families of thousands of teachers and left their children helpless. The whole education system of West Bengal is being ruined. The absence of teachers has put the future of lakhs of students at risk. The TMC leaders have committed such a huge sin. The limit is that even today these people are not ready to accept their mistake. Instead, they blame the courts," he said.
"The youth, poor, and middle-class (of West Bengal) are bearing the brunt of corruption. We've seen how corruption leads to destruction, especially in the West Bengal teacher recruitment scam. The TMC government has ruined the future of thousands of teachers and their families. This is not just the problem of few thousand teachers, but the entire education system is deteriorating. Even now, they refuse to admit their mistakes and are instead blaming courts," he added.
Bengal is slated to face assembly polls next year. (ANI)