In a sharp political attack during his address in Alipurduar on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government of prioritising politics over development and stalling the progress of West Bengal.

PM Modi criticized the Mamata Banerjee-led government for boycotting the NITI Aayog Governing Council meeting held in New Delhi, a platform where crucial decisions regarding national and state-level development are taken in coordination between the Centre and states.

“The West Bengal government was absent from the NITI Aayog Governing Council's meeting in Delhi. This meeting was not about politics, it was about planning the country’s future. But TMC doesn’t care about the future — they only want to play politics 24 hours a day,” PM Modi said.

He alleged that due to the state government's non-cooperation, several Central Government welfare schemes and infrastructure projects in Bengal are facing serious delays or being outright blocked.

“TMC neither wants to implement the Centre’s schemes nor allow the people of Bengal to benefit from them. Today, 16 major infrastructure projects worth thousands of crores have been stalled in West Bengal because the state government refuses to cooperate,” he stated.

PM Modi claimed this approach of “intentional obstruction” is costing the state dearly — from job creation to road and railway development, multiple sectors have suffered. He also accused the state administration of blocking schemes aimed at farmers, youth, and the poor, calling it a “betrayal” of the people of Bengal.

“How can Bengal progress if the government here turns its back on every effort for development? The people gave them a chance, but now Bengal wants change. Bengal deserves a government that doesn’t run from responsibility,” he added.