Kolkata: PM Modi on Sunday cited the imprisonment of seven judicial officers on SIR duty in Malda district as evidence of the deteriorating law and order situation in Bengal, intensifying his attack. Trinamool Congress At BJP’s election rally in Cooch Behar.“Citizens across the country are shocked at how judicial officers were taken hostage in Malda. What kind of government is this where even judges and constitutional authorities are not safe? If they are not safe, how can the common people feel safe?” Modi said.Describing the situation as “jungle raj”, Modi said the situation has become “so bad that the Supreme Court had to intervene.” He said the purpose of the SIR of the voting list is to identify “illegal settlers”.

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Malda in North Bengal became the epicenter of political confrontation after judicial magistrates gheraoed a block office in Kaliachak sub-division last week during protests related to voter list revision.Turning to cross-border infiltration, PM Modi said the purpose of the SIR of the voter list is to identify “illegal residents” and remove their names.He said, “There has been an alarming change in the demography of Bengal in the 15 years of the TMC government. TMC has allowed infiltrators to enter Bengal and absorbed them into its syndicate network. That is why the Government of India is identifying the infiltrators and taking steps to remove them.” He accused the TMC government of opposing the SIR and “threatening to scrap” the CAA to “protect infiltrators”, alleging that the “rights of Hindu citizens legally settled here” were being curtailed.Modi questioned TMC’s decision to name its manifesto as Ishtehar. “Instead of using the word Bengali, they have used the word ‘ishtehaar’, which raises questions about how they are representing the identity of Bengal,” he said. He warned TMC functionaries, saying, “You should trust the law on the day of voting… Ebar Bangla Theke Bhay Palabe (This time fear will disappear from Bengal). After this election, there will be full accountability for their actions… They will be held to account.”In Malda, district authorities initiated action against an additional district magistrate over alleged dereliction of duty during the Kaliachak siege, while the NIA continued its investigation.