PM Modi: Due to fog, PM Modi's helicopter could not land in Taherpur; he delivered his address virtually from Kolkata airport.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was unsuccessful in his attempt to land at the Taherpur helipad in West Bengal on Saturday. According to officials, visibility was very low due to dense fog in the area, causing the PM's helicopter to hover above the helipad for some time before returning to Kolkata airport. The PM is now delivering his address virtually from the airport.

PM Modi pays tribute to Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay.

In his virtual address to the gathering, PM Modi paid tribute to the great literary figure Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, saying that Vande Mataram was the mantra of the struggle against British rule. PM Modi said that Vande Mataram must be made the mantra of nation-building.

The Prime Minister expressed deep sorrow over the news of the death of some BJP workers in a train accident while they were on their way to attend the rally and offered his condolences to the bereaved families. He said that in this hour of grief, the central government stands shoulder to shoulder with the affected families.

Bengal must be freed from the rule of the jungle - PM Modi.

The Prime Minister said that the central government is working hand in hand with the citizens of the country. He said that GST has provided great relief to the people of the entire country, including Bengal, and people across the country have benefited greatly from it during Durga Puja and other festivals. The PM said that the Ganges flows from Bihar to Bengal and Bihar has shown the way to Bengal. He said that Bengal must be freed from the rule of the jungle. The Prime Minister reiterated that he is wholeheartedly dedicated to the people of Bengal and that there is no shortage of funds and policies for the state.

'Let a double-engine government be formed in Bengal'

The Prime Minister said that many development projects in West Bengal are pending due to the state government. He said that if the TMC wants to oppose the BJP, they can, but stopping development for political gain is incomprehensible. PM Modi appealed to the people to give the BJP a chance, let a double-engine government be formed, and assured them that his government will remain fully committed to the development of Bengal.

PM Modi to give Bengal a gift of Rs 3200 crore

It is noteworthy that during his visit to Bengal, the Prime Minister will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for two national highway projects worth approximately Rs 3,200 crore. He will inaugurate the 66.7-kilometre-long four-lane section of National Highway-34 between Barajaguli and Krishnanagar in Nadia district and lay the foundation stone for the 17.6-kilometre-long four-lane Barasat-Barajaguli section in North 24 Parganas district. Officials said these projects are expected to create a crucial connectivity link between Kolkata and Siliguri, boosting trade, tourism, and economic activity in the southern and northern parts of the state.

PM Modi's first public meeting amidst the SIR process

Before his visit to Bengal, PM Modi wrote in a social media post on Friday evening, "The people of West Bengal are benefiting from several pro-people initiatives of the central government. At the same time, they are suffering due to the misgovernance of the TMC in every sector."

The Prime Minister wrote, "The TMC's loot and intimidation have crossed all limits. That is why people have hope in the BJP." The Prime Minister's visit comes at a time when the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress is continuously protesting against the SIR (Special Summary Revision) process. The TMC alleges that the SIR process is being conducted in a "hasty" manner and could disenfranchise a large number of people, especially Hindu refugees. More than 58 lakh names have been removed from the West Bengal electoral rolls in the SIR draft. Following this, the number of voters in the state has decreased to 7.08 crore.