Vote for BJP to free West Bengal of ‘infiltrators’, says PM Modi in Kolkata

Emphasising that ‘infiltrators’ are putting pressure on the country’s resources and infrastructure, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (August 22, 2025) urged the people of West Bengal to vote for the BJP to free the State of infiltrators.

“Your one vote can make Bengal free from infiltrators. We have limited resources and have to provide employment to our youth. The infiltrators are putting pressures on our resources and infrastructure. They are also posing a threat to our women. We will not allow them to stay in India,” he said, addressing a gathering at Dum Dum in Kolkata.

The Assembly election in the State is due early next year.

Mr. Modi referred to the launch of a demographic mission, and said West Bengal, being a border State, faces the threat of infiltration. Alleging that West Bengal’s demography is changing due to ‘infiltration’, he said parties such as the Trinamool Congress and the Congress are supporting infiltrators for appeasement politics.

The remarks by the Prime Minister come at a time when hundreds of migrant workers from the State have alleged detention and harassment on the suspicion of being Bangladeshis. Many of the migrant workers were forced to return to the State. The Trinamool Congress had described such detentions as an attack on Bengali language and identity, and had called for a sustained movement against the drive.

One of the metro lines inaugurated by the Prime Minister in Kolkata on Friday, August 22.
| Photo Credit:
DEBASISH BHADURI

During the day, the Prime Minister inaugurated metro rail services along three stretches – Green, Yellow and Orange lines – in the city. Mr. Modi also laid the foundation stone for various projects in the State and inaugurated a few, in all worth over ₹5,200 crore.

Anti-corruption Bill

Stating that the BJP government had introduced a major anti-corruption Bill in this session of the Lok Sabha, he said the Prime Minister too would come under its ambit. “You all know that if a lower-level government official in our country is arrested, and if they don’t get bail within 50 hours, they are automatically suspended. However, there are no such rules for Ministers, Chief Ministers, or the Prime Minister,” he said.

Targeting the Opposition parties, Mr. Modi said some people had stooped so low that they try to run the government even from jail. “West Bengal has witnessed this many times. One Trinamool Minister is still in jail on charges of the teachers’ recruitment scam. Another Minister was arrested on charges of ration theft,” he said.

Calling for a change in West Bengal, Mr. Modi gave a new slogan, ‘Bachte Chai BJP Tai’ (Want to be saved, That is why we need BJP). He also added that the BJP believes in ‘Bangalar uday, tobei viksit bharater jai’ (The rise of Bengal leads to the victory of a developed India).

‘Central funds diverted’

Mr. Modi criticised the Trinamool Congress government and said that it posed a huge obstacle to the “development of Bengal because the money sent by the Centre to the State government doesn’t reach the people”. “ That money is not utilised for the welfare of women and the poor; instead, it is spent on the Trinamool cadre,” he added.

The Prime Minister told the gathering that is necessary to elect the BJP in West Bengal to ensure that the benefits of Central government schemes reach the people. “It is certain that the Trinamool will be removed from power and the BJP will be elected,” he added.

Schoolchildren enjoy their ride on a newly inaugurated metro service in Kolkata on Friday, August 22.
| Photo Credit:
DEBASISH BHADURI

This was the third visit of the Prime Minister to the State since May 2025. On July 18, 2025, he visited Durgapur and unveiled various development projects and said Bengali language and identity are paramount to the BJP but also said infiltrators in the country would be dealt with as per law. Prior to this, the Prime Minister visited Alipurduar on May 29, 2025, where he said that people of West Bengal do not want ‘nirmam sarkar’ (heartless government).