West Bengal chief-minister and Trinalmool Congress president Mamata Banerjee has described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as ‘Thuglaq’, the Moghul ruler who ruled major parts of northern under in a confusion-ridden regime.

Taking part at a conclave organized by India Today, over the weekend, Mamata said that leading industrial houses were being threatened not to invest hugely in Bengal.  “The industrial houses, which have their businesses spread far and wide across the State, are not giving in to such threats. I wonder why the Centre is not clearing many industries planned to be launched in the State.

“Demonetization drive wasn’t meant to eradicate black money from the county; even the Union Finance Minister was aware of such an important decision relating to his Ministry being taken by you. Are the Thuglaq of the modern era?  You claim to have kept in check terrorism activities in the post demonetization phase whereas in reality such activities have gone up by 12% in Kashmir Valley.

“If I criticize the Prime Minister, his Ministerial colleagues jump at me with several counter criticisms. I’m entitled by my individual liberty to criticize things occurring around me. I’m not opposed to any individual nor did I ever practice the act of political vengeance. BJP can’t find roots in Bengal, the soil which gave birth to greats such as Swamy Vivekanand and Rabindrnath Tagore,” she thundered.