“Nirmamta” PM Modi Slams Mamata Banerjee Over Murshidabad Violence
In a blistering attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday described the recent violence in Murshidabad and Malda as a reflection of her government’s “cruelty and indifference”, accusing the Trinamool Congress of allowing lawlessness to flourish unchecked.
Speaking in Alipurduar after inaugurating a City Gas Distribution project, PM Modi coined the term “nirmamta” — a pun on Mamata Banerjee’s name, which translates to “cruelty” in Hindi — to sharply criticise the state administration.
“Incidents in Murshidabad and Malda are stark examples of the Trinamool government’s cruelty and indifference to the people’s suffering. The people here now have only the court to rely on,” the Prime Minister said, addressing a crowd in Bengal’s northern district.
PM Modi’s comments come in the wake of widespread outrage over communal clashes in Murshidabad last month. A fact-finding report by a committee appointed by the Calcutta High Court found gross negligence by the Bengal Police and direct involvement of Trinamool leaders, including an MLA and a local councillor, in the riots.
The violence, which erupted in the communally sensitive border district, has since become a key issue for the BJP as it gears up for the 2026 Bengal Assembly elections.
BJP leaders have accused the Mamata Banerjee-led government of appeasement politics and failing to protect Hindus during the violence. PM Modi echoed the sentiment, saying: “The whole of Bengal is saying, ‘We don’t want a ruthless government!’”
The Trinamool Congress, already facing public scrutiny over the High Court report, is yet to respond formally to PM Modi’s remarks. However, party insiders say they are preparing a detailed rebuttal and plan to highlight what they call the BJP’s attempts to communalise the issue ahead of elections.
On social media, BJP leaders and supporters amplified Modi’s “nirmamta” remark, trending the hashtag #NirmamtaSarkar. Several union ministers and party MPs called for the President’s Rule in Bengal, citing repeated failures of the law-and-order machinery.
Last month, communal tensions flared in Murshidabad’s Jalangi and Raghunathganj areas after a minor scuffle escalated during Ram Navami processions. At least two people were killed and dozens injured. Properties and shops were set ablaze, and the violence quickly spread to parts of neighbouring Malda.
The Calcutta High Court committee noted that the police remained “silent spectators”, failing to intervene. It also highlighted that despite warnings of tension in the area, no preventive action was taken.
