Modi Reinvokes Netaji's 'Give Me Blood' Slogan in Bengal Campaign, Promises 'Azadi' From TMC Rule

KOLKATA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday reframed Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's iconic call - "Give me blood, and I'll give you freedom" - by asking for votes in the Matua belt of Thakurnagar in return for "azadi" from TMC's "maha jungle raj". By invoking Netaji's call, Modi anchored BJP's campaign in Bengal's pride and emotion during the last leg of the campaign before the second phase of the assembly elections on Wednesday. "Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose said, 'Tum mujhe khoon do, main tumhe azadi dunga'. The country gave everything on Netaji's call. Today, Bengal needs your vote. You vote for us and we will free you from TMC. Azadi from TMC's maha jungle raj, azadi from TMC's fear, azadi from TMC's corruption, azadi from torture inflicted on daughters, azadi from unemployment, azadi from infiltrators, azadi from rioters," Modi said at an election rally in Bongaon's Thakurnagar. Modi used the term "azadi", to loud applause from the audience, to draw a par-allel between India's free-dom struggle and BJP's fight against Trinamool. He also addressed a rally in Hooghly's Haripal and led a roadshow from BK Paul Ave-nue to the Khanna crossing in Kolkata during the day. The PM chose the event in the Matua heartland, which saw mass deletions from the voters' list during the SIR, to assure "Matuas and namashudras" of citizenship. "You'll get the documents and rights of an Indian citizen. This is Modi's guarantee," he said. In an attempt to strike a chord with the community, Modi visited the Matua temple in Thakurnagar and shared on his X handle a photograph of his 2019 meeting with the now deceased Matua matriarch, Baroma Binapani Devi. Seeking to underscore BJP's commitment towards protecting Hindus persecuted in neighbouring countries, he said in Thakurnagar, "Jana Sangh (BJP's ideological precursor) stood firm with refugees. Syama Prasad Mookerjee was considered to be their spokesperson." In the same breath, he spoke against Trinamool's "appeasement politics" and vowed to drive out infiltrators. "I am warning the infiltrators to leave Bengal and India before April 29. Otherwise, each of them will be driven out after May 4," he said. Referring to the first phase of the polls on April 23, which saw a record turnout of more than 93%, Modi said, "TMC's pride was destroyed in the first phase. The second phase will ensure BJP's massive victory. We have to win in each booth and there is no room for complacency." Pointing at the large turnout of women in the first phase, Modi said women were deceived the most during Trinamool's term in office. Referring to the I-PAC issue, he said, "Trinamool and the state govt tried to create hindrances in the investigation by a central agency. There were attempts to destroy evidence. But Supreme Court had recently given a strict order in the matter." In Kolkata, before joining the road show, Modi offered prayers at the Thanthania Kalibari.