Mamata Banerjee gives witty twist to PM Modi’s ‘God’ remark, says will ‘build you a temple, offer dhokla’

Mamata Banerjee, chief minister of the east Indian state of West Bengal, on Wednesday (May 29) gave a witty twist toPrime Minister Narendra Modi's recent "God" remark.

In an interview, PM Modi had said that he was sent by the "Parmatma for a purpose". Banerjee said that God (Parmatma) should refrain from doing politics and instigating riots.

Earlier, Sambit Patra, who is Bharatiya Janata Party's Lok Sabha candidate from Puri, had made a gaffe and said that Lord Jagannath was a "bhakt of Modi". Patra apologised for his controversial remark, and fasted for three days in penance for what he calleda slip of tongue.

"One says he (PM Modi) is the God of the gods... one leader says Lord Jagannath is his devotee... if he is God, then God should not do politics. God should not instigate riots. We will build a temple for him and worship him there, offer prasad, flowers and if he wishes, we will also offer him dhokla," the Trinamool Congress chief said while addressing a rally in Kolkata.

"I have worked with so many Prime Ministers, like Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who used to love me a lot. I worked with Manmohan Singh, Rajiv Gandhi, Narasimha Rao, and Deve Gowda... I have never seen anyone like him, such a Prime Minister is not needed,"Banerjee added.

On Tuesday, both Mamata and PM Modi held roadshows in Kolkata ahead of the final phase of voting on June 1.

Banerjee targets PM Modi's govt over cyclone Remal rescue efforts

The West Bengal chief minister also accused PM Modi of not being truthful about the Centre's role in monitoring cyclone Remal and rescue efforts. She claimed that it was her government which took measures to save the lives of people from the cyclone that hit the state.

"We shifted nearly 46 lakh people (to safer places) and saved their lives," Banerjee said while addressing an election rally at Behala in Kolkata.

Meanwhile, PM Modi during a rally in Barasat said that the Centre was providing all help to the West Bengal government to handle the situation.

(With inputs from agencies)