New Delhi: Narendra Modi on Monday called for an end to political violence in West Bengal, urging party workers to focus on “change, not revenge” following the Bharatiya Janata Party’s strong performance in the state’s recent elections.
Addressing party workers during victory celebrations at the BJP headquarters, the Prime Minister emphasized that the party’s priority would be to work towards a better future for the people of Bengal. He stressed that the mandate should be seen as an opportunity for constructive governance rather than political retaliation.
“Today, when the BJP has won, the focus should be on change, not revenge. The focus should be on the future, not fear,” Modi said. He also made a broader appeal to workers across political parties to collectively end what he described as an “endless cycle of violence.”
Highlighting a shift in the electoral environment, Modi noted that the recent polls in West Bengal were marked by relative peace compared to previous elections. “You must remember what kind of news used to come during Bengal elections—violence, fear, and deaths of innocent people. But this time, the country witnessed peaceful voting,” he said.
The Prime Minister added that, for the first time, no innocent lives were lost due to election-related violence in the state. “In this grand festival of democracy, it was not the sound of guns, but the voice of the people that echoed. It was democracy, not fear, that triumphed,” he remarked.
The remarks come amid continued political tensions in West Bengal, where electoral contests have often been marred by clashes between rival party workers. Modi’s message is being seen as an attempt to set the tone for post-election politics and governance in the state.
