Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Ranaghat in Nadia district on Saturday to address the Hindu minority community, the Matuas, was marred by dense fog. As a result, the helicopter could not land at the Taherpur helipad, and he had to turn back to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata.
PM Modi’s scheduled public address was delayed by more than an hour and was done virtually through video conferencing. The programme included the virtual inauguration of highway projects in West Bengal.
TMC’s misgovernance has stalled West Bengal’s progress. People are now looking to the BJP with renewed hope. Addressing a rally in Nadia district virtually. https://t.co/uNstvInC08
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 20, 2025
Hitting out at the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in the state, the Prime Minister said, “Today I want to share my pain and talk from the depths and take you into confidence to say clearly to oppose TMC a thousand times and if you want to oppose BJP do that, but why is development in Bengal and projects stalled? That is why I say oppose Modi, but don’t kill the dreams of the people.”
“Give BJP and the double engine government a chance here to see how we give speed to projects,” the PM added.
Modi referred to the success of the NDA in the recent Bihar elections, hinting at the effects of victory rubbing off on neighbouring West Bengal. “People voted for NDA, I had said Ganga flows from Bihar to Bengal and Bihar has shown the road for victory in Bengal and has shown the way out of jungle raj.”
“After 20 years, Bengal has given more seats to BJP, and we have freedom from jungle raj and every child in Bengal and every village, town, lane is saying ‘bachte chai, BJP tai’(Because we want to live, that is why it is BJP),” the PM said
The Prime Minister also referred to neighbouring state Tripura, where the left government, which ruled for three-decades was replaced by the BJP. “ We have Tripura neighbouring us. The Communists, Leftists and red flag people ruled for almost 30 years and destroyed Tripura. They gave us a chance and a chance to move ahead,” Modi said.
“We thought after the Left went away(In West Bengal), there would be progress in Bengal, but the TMC has taken over more problems of the Left, and that is why Tripura is progressing, and Bengal is lagging behind.”
Modi made efforts to connect with Bengal by starting his speech in Bengali and apologizing for not being able to visit supporters in the Nadia district due to bad weather. He also went on to refer to the creator of the national song Vande Mataram, Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, as ‘Bankim Babu’ and not ‘Bankim Da’, which led to him getting flak from the TMC.
He ended his speech by promising to visit the Nadia district. “I am not one of those leaders who will make the weather a big issue and use it to my advantage. I will come for you, to make your dreams true and with full force give you confidence,” he said.
The TMC wasted no time in hitting out at the PM. “Modi’s helicopter could not land due to bad weather. This is an act of god. Remember Abhishek Banerjee’s words? Tighten your seat belts, the weather is going to get worse. The weather has gotten bad for the BJP in Bengal,” former TMC MP Kunal Ghosh said.
“Oppose TMC in a democratic way. But if you cannot do that, then why make these statements?” Ghosh added.
The PM’s rally to reach out to the Matua community was left incomplete, leaving restless groups of supporters at the venue who tore pieces of the makeshift structure made for the PM. Police had a difficult time controlling BJP supporters who were eager to watch the Prime Minister’s address.
Meanwhile, the BJP also alleged that local police were blocking roads and preventing people from reaching the venue for PM Modi’s rally. After West Bengal, the PM is scheduled to reach Guwahati in Assam for a two day visit, which includes multiple programmes.
