Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a public meeting ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections in Cooch Behar, West Bengal on April 5, 2026. | Photo credit: PTI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (April 5, 2026) highlighted the gherao incident of judicial officials in West Bengal’s Malda district, saying the incident was a reflection of the “maha jungle raj supported by the Trinamool Congress”.
Mr. Modi said that the Trinamool government does not consider any constitutional institution important and the Malda incident is a reflection of that.
“Law abiding citizens were shocked at the way judicial officials were held hostage in Malda. What kind of government is this that even judges are not safe. How can you expect the safety of common people from such a government… The situation is so bad that the Supreme Court of the country had to intervene,” Modi said while addressing a public meeting in Cooch Behar.
Seven judicial officers who were involved in the Special Intensive Review (SIR) trial were surrounded by a mob in Motabari, Malda on 1 April 2026. They were later rescued by the police after a few hours. 35 people were arrested in connection with the incident and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) began investigating the case.
The prime accused in the case, Moffakerul Islam, who was arrested by the West Bengal police, contested the 2021 parliamentary polls from Itahar as an All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen candidate.
During his speech, the first since assembly polls were announced in the state, the Prime Minister launched the BJP’s campaign and said the Trinamool was against the SIR and the Citizenship (Amendment) Act to protect infiltrators. “Dangerous demographic changes have taken place in Bengal’s border areas under the TMC rule. These infiltrators are getting direct protection from the TMC syndicate,” he said.
The prime minister said voters have to choose between the ‘bhoy’ (fear) of the Trinamool and the ‘bharosa’ (trust) of the BJP in the upcoming polls. “No matter how much the TMC goons try to terrorize you on election day, you have to trust the law. I have full faith in the Election Commission. There will be an election that will be free, fair and without fear,” he said.
The Prime Minister leveled allegations of corruption against the Trinamool and warned that every act of alleged corruption and violence within the Trinamool would be investigated once the results of the parliamentary polls were declared. “I assure you that after the elections, every one of their sins will be accounted for. No matter how powerful the criminal may be, justice will be served this time,” he said.
Cooch Behar, located in North Bengal, has nine assembly seats and goes to polls in the first phase on April 23. The BJP, which is considered stronger in North Bengal than South Bengal, won seven of the nine seats in the 2021 polls. However, the BJP lost the Cooch Behar Lok Sabha seat to the Trinamool Congress in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Published – 05 Apr 2026 17:39 IST
