Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the BJP's reported plans to distribute vermilion among women across the country.

The CM said, “Please remember every woman has respect, they accept sindoor only from her husband... The way you are talking... You are not the husband of everybody; why are you not giving sindoor to your Mrs first?”

Jumping to her support, TMC MP Derek O’Brien took to his official X account and posted a clipping of the CM’s press conference, captioning the post: It took a woman to show Modi the mirror.

The TMC supremo upped the ante and condemned the saffron brigade led by PM Modi for using ‘Operation Sindoor' for political gains ahead of upcoming elections in multiple states, she alleged.

Critiquing the PM who was in West Bengal’s Alipurduar on Thursday to attend a public meeting, Banerjee mocked Modi, saying the latter, who was initially a tea-seller, and then a ‘chowkidar', has come to sell sindoor. “He cannot sell sindoor like this," Banerjee added.

Banerjee also attacked the Bengal BJP president and Union Minister, Sukanta Majumdar, for his declaration of an ‘Operation Sindoor-like Operation West Bengal’ in the presence of PM Modi.

“The nomenclature of 'Operation Sindoor' was ascribed with a political motivation. However, I shall refrain from making further comments on this matter. While numerous opposition leaders vociferously advocate for the nation on international platforms, the prime minister’s engagement in political festivities is unbecoming of his esteemed position,” Banerjee said during a press conference.

Majumdar, while introducing Modi at the rally in Alipurduar, said, “Pakistan had wiped the vermilion off the heads of our mothers and sisters. Narendra Modi has taken revenge for that. In front of me, thousands of BJP workers will become Modiji’s soldiers in the coming days, like Operation Sindoor, and will carry out ‘Operation West Bengal’ and throw the Trinamool overthrow into the waters of the Bay of Bengal.”

Banerjee also came down upon Modi, expressing her dismay at the PM’s remarks during a period characterised by national unity, particularly when opposition leaders are articulating a cohesive message internationally. Furthermore, she extended a challenge to him to initiate elections immediately.