Modi made his point in no uncertain terms in West Bengal: we are going after those who have ‘looted public money’ and putting them in jail, while at the same time we will be delivering. It was a two-pronged approach he put on display in Hooghly for Paschimbanga Divas, where he also unveiled some new projects and put some cash in the hands of the people.
Anti-corruption message linked to growth
He put his remarks in the context of a wider overhaul of the way the state is run. According to him, there is a 'new freshness in the air of Bengal‘ and the kind of progress that comes with good governance is picking up speed.
He didn’t have to name names to say what he thought of the old guard. They were the ones who got in the way of development and sent people off in search of a living. “They pushed Bengal backwards and turned it into a land of exodus,” was how he put it.
Border security and stalled decisions
Then there was the matter of the border. Modi said the last state government had put the brakes on the land transfers needed for fencing. “That process started under the present regime,” he noted, making the connection between red tape and what happens on the ground for security.
Farm support and money in hand
One of the things on the agenda was the 23rd round of PM-Kisan. In all, over 18,880 crore has been put into the accounts of more than 9.44 crore people in the country. It’s a big payout, and in West Bengal it is being followed by some new ways to de-risk the business of farming.
We have also seen the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana come to the state. It is one thing to talk about covering farm losses, quite another to do it. Modi sees this as a case of moving from words to a delivery model that is both swift and answerable.
Insurance rollout and coverage
When you look at the numbers for 2026-27, the state should have close to 50 lakh farmers under the PMFBY umbrella. We are talking 14 lakh hectares of land and some 28,140 crore in crop value that will be covered.
For the officials, it is a way to put a floor under farm incomes, to go with the cash support already in place.
Here is a rundown of what was put on the table today:
– Over 9.44 crore beneficiaries to have their PM-Kisan instalment
– A transfer of 18,880 crore plus across the nation
– The start of PMFBY in West Bengal
– An aim to cover 50 lakh or so farmers in 2026-27
Transport and rural connectivity push
It is not just about the fields. The Prime Minister was on hand to lay the cornerstones for some 590 crore in railway work. The idea is to get goods and people moving to give local business a leg up.
He also opened up 49 roads in as many districts as part of PMGSY-III, well over 315 km of it. That should make for easier last-mile access for the man in the village who needs to get to market.
Political signals and public stage
Paschimbanga Divas was as much a political occasion as anything. Modi was back on the theme of how the state has been short-changed by graft. “Those who had looted public money in Bengal are returning it now, and they are being sent to jail,” he said.
You had the Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari there, along with members of the house, the public and the rest of the establishment. To wrap it up, Modi offered a wish: “May this historic Paschimbanga Divas inspire development of West Bengal.”
What to watch next
Now the hard part: following through. You will have to see if the enrolment for PMFBY in 2026-27 is as smooth as it is made out to be, and if the rail and road assets actually get up and running when they are supposed to.
Modi has made the link between being accountable and getting things done. If the schedule is kept, you could see a different side to Bengal’s development, driven by a bit of everything – from the cash in the bank to the risk cover and the tarmac under your feet.
