'Anyone Who Dares To Share A Cartoon Is Threatened': PM Modi Targets TMC Govt During Bengal Rally

Alleging there was no freedom of expression under the TMC rule, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday took a jibe at the West Bengal government for “threatening” people for sharing innocuous social media posts, such as humorous videos and cartoons.

His remarks came at a rally in Bengal’s Arambagh less than a week after Modi lauded an X user for sharing the AI-generated video that showed him dancing. He reshared his video hours after Kolkata Police directed a social media user to disclose their identity for posting a similar spoof video of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Addressing his third campaign rally in Bengal’s Arambagh today, PM Modi said, “The people of Bengal are unable to exercise their right to Freedom of Expression under TMC’s rule. In this region, the voices of the opposition and informed citizens are suppressed. Anyone who dares to share a cartoon or humorous video on social media is threatened by the government.”

The Prime Minister said that this Lok Sabha election is for protecting Bengal’s culture over which the TMC thinks it has a monopoly. The PM said that this election was also for the development of the state. He accused the TMC of looting the state and claimed that it was “committing a huge sin”.

Alleging that the TMC was spreading falsehood over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act to frighten the people, he said, “CAA is a constitutional guarantee and a guarantee of Modi.” He said that attempts to mislead the people on CAA would backfire. The BJP has fielded Arup Kanti Digar in the Arambagh seat against TMC’s Mitali Bag and CPI(M)’s Biplab Kumar Moitra.

Modi arrived in Kolkata on Saturday night to campaign for the Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal. Modi arrived here from Jharkhand, and after landing at the airport, he went by road to the Raj Bhavan amid tight security. On Sunday, he will address election rallies in Barrackpore in North 24 Parganas district, Panchla in Howrah, and Chinsurah and Pursura in Hooghly district.

The PM was welcomed at the Raj Bhavan by Governor CV Ananda Bose. This is Modi’s second visit to the city this month. He reached Kolkata on May 2 and after spending the night in Raj Bhavan, he addressed rallies in Krishnanagar, Purba Bardhaman and Bolpur Lok Sabha constituencies the next day.

Explore the detailed schedule and key constituencies of the 2024 Lok Sabha Election’s Fourth Phase