Kolkata, April 24: Political campaigning in West Bengal intensified on Friday after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing a rally in Panihati under North 24 Parganas district, said that individuals connected to what he described as a broader conspiracy in the R.G. Kar rape and murder case would be identified and held accountable if the Bharatiya Janata Party comes to power in the state after the ongoing Assembly elections.
The case, which involved the killing of a woman doctor inside the state-run R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata in August 2024, has remained a sensitive and politically charged issue in the state. The victim’s family is now directly in the electoral spotlight, as the BJP candidate from Panihati constituency is the mother of the deceased doctor, Swapna Debnath.
Addressing supporters, Modi said the upcoming election would mark a decisive moment for women in Bengal, claiming that they would “rewrite history” by delivering a message to the ruling dispensation over alleged crimes against women. He further alleged that those responsible for such incidents would be made accountable after the results scheduled for May 4.
The Prime Minister also referred to the personal tragedy of the BJP candidate in Panihati, stating that she had dedicated her life to ensuring her daughter became a doctor and served the nation, but lost her in what he described as a consequence of misrule. He reiterated that those behind the “larger conspiracy” would not be spared if his party formed the government.
Modi also commented on the political atmosphere following the first phase of polling in 152 Assembly constituencies, claiming that the ruling Trinamool Congress was unsettled by voter turnout patterns. He alleged that this had led to heightened desperation within the party, further accusing it of encouraging criminal elements and attempting to destabilise the situation ahead of the remaining phases.
On governance issues, the Prime Minister attacked the Trinamool Congress administration over unemployment and investment trends in the state. He said that job opportunities for young people had been adversely affected and claimed that no new industrial investments would come as long as the current government remained in power. He also stated that existing industries could relocate due to what he termed a deteriorated investment climate over the past 15 years.
The remarks come at a time when West Bengal is witnessing a high-stakes electoral battle, with issues of law and order, women’s safety, employment, and industrial growth emerging as central campaign themes across constituencies.
