West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday launched a sharp political attack on the BJP leadership, contrasting the condition of Kolkata’s Hooghly River with Delhi’s Yamuna during an election rally in Howrah.

Banerjee said Prime Minister Narendra Modi could enjoy a boat ride on the Hooghly because its waters were clean, while alleging that a similar experience would not be possible on the Yamuna due to pollution. She blamed the BJP-led administration in Delhi for the state of the river.

Highlighting riverfront development in Kolkata, she said the Hooghly had been beautified under the state government and civic bodies, including the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, making it suitable for public use and tourism.

The Chief Minister also responded to recent comments by Modi on women’s safety in West Bengal, asking him to assess the situation himself and compare it with BJP-ruled states. She claimed women in Bengal were safer in public spaces compared to several other states, including Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, and referred to incidents such as Hathras and ongoing violence in Manipur, questioning the Centre’s response.

"Why do you forget about Hathras and Delhi? Please go to Manipur, which is burning. Why are you silent on Manipur?" she asked.

Escalating her criticism of the BJP leadership, Banerjee accused the party of shielding people with criminal backgrounds and alleged that offenders were being politically rewarded.

"You (BJP) give tickets to those who rape women and garland rapists,” accused Mamata.

Banerjee further alleged misuse of central agencies for political pressure and said opposition voices were being targeted. She also raised concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, claiming it had caused hardship in Bengal and alleging that multiple deaths had occurred due to related stress and administrative issues. She said she had moved the Supreme Court over voter deletions.

Expressing confidence in her party’s electoral prospects, Banerjee predicted a strong mandate for the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and claimed the BJP would face a major setback in several regions of the state.

She also objected to remarks allegedly made about Kolkata’s development, defending the city’s industrial and urban standing.

In a lighter remark, she said she would even cook fish curry for the Prime Minister and send it to him, calling it part of Bengal’s culture of hospitality.

Banerjee later held a roadshow in Bhabanipur, her constituency, as campaigning intensified ahead of the polls.

With PTI inputs