Mamata Banerjee slams PM Modi for 'politicising' North Bengal floods, urges focus on relief efforts

In a sharply worded statement, Banerjee said it was “deeply unfortunate” that the Prime Minister chose to “assign blame” to the West Bengal government without waiting for a formal investigation or verified reports.

“When the entire local administration and police are engrossed in relief and rescue operations, BJP leaders chose to go to the affected areas with large convoys and under central force protection, without informing local authorities. How can the state administration, police, or TMC be blamed for any incident?” Banerjee said.

She accused the Prime Minister of “breaching constitutional ethos” by making politically charged remarks “in the absence of evidence or administrative findings.” “This is not just a political low, it is unbecoming of the highest office in the land,” her statement said.

Over the past week, continuous heavy rainfall has triggered flash floods and landslides across districts, including Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, and Cooch Behar. Rivers like Teesta, Jaldhaka, and Torsa have overflowed their banks, inundating vast stretches of farmland and residential areas.

According to preliminary reports from the state disaster management department, at least 24 people have died and more than 50,000 residents have been affected, with thousands forced to take shelter in temporary relief camps. Several bridges, roads, and power lines have been washed away, cutting off connectivity to remote hill regions.

The state government has deployed National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams, alongside the Army, to conduct rescue operations and distribute relief material. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been monitoring the situation from Kolkata and has announced compensation for affected families.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has sought a detailed report from the state government and directed the Ministry of Home Affairs to assess the situation for possible central assistance.

Political war of words

The TMC’s remarks came a day after Prime Minister Modi criticised the Bengal government for “failing to ensure safety and relief for citizens in the flood-hit areas,” accusing the ruling party of “strongarm tactics” in the region.

The ruling party countered that the Prime Minister was “playing politics over people’s suffering.” It also noted that the incident in question occurred in a constituency represented by a BJP MLA.

“Yet the Prime Minister sees no contradiction in blaming the TMC for everything that goes wrong in Bengal,” the statement said, calling the reaction “political theatre, not empathy.”

The TMC also accused the BJP of attempting to revive a “North Bengal versus South Bengal” divide ahead of next year’s Lok Sabha polls. “Bengal is one — emotionally, culturally, and politically,” it said.

Reiterating that the focus should remain on relief and rehabilitation, the TMC urged the Prime Minister to “listen to the elected state government, not just his party colleagues.”

“You are the Prime Minister of India, not just of the BJP. Your responsibility lies in nation-building, not narrative-building,” the statement concluded, appealing for unity and cooperation “to help and heal, not divide and distract.”