Fact-check of Narendra Modi’s speech at Coochbehar

WHAT Narendra Modi SAID

Poor people have own bank accounts now

TRUTH

An investigation last year showed that 18 public sector banks and their 16 regional rural subsidiaries held 1.05 crore Jan Dhan accounts with a deposit of just Rs 1

Source: The Wire
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WHAT Narendra Modi SAID

Poor people have gas connections now

TRUTH

Number of LPG connections across India has increased by 16.26%, but use of gas cylinders increased by only 9.83%. People are not returning for a refill due to the high cost of cylinders and revert back to kerosene or firewood

Source: Business Standard
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TRUE

WHAT Narendra Modi SAID

The land agreement with Bangladesh was pending for ages. It was impossible before. Now it is possible

TRUTH

Land Boundary Agreement was passed unanimously in the Lok Sabha, and would not have been possible without the active support and cooperation of the West Bengal Government, as acknowledged by the Minister of External Affairs in Parliament. West Bengal Government has already spent over Rs 100 crore for the housing of the enclave dwellers and has given them land pattas

Source: The Indian Express
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TRUE

WHAT Narendra Modi SAID

Didi is posing speed-breakers on developmental projects

TRUTH

Industry sector of Bengal grew at 11.41% compared to India’s 4.4%. In GVA of employment-intensive industries Bengal 1 of only 5 states to clock growth higher than the national average. Bengal no. 1 in credit for MSME, no. 1 in skill development, no. 1 in Ease of Doing Business

Source: wbcmo.gov.in
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TRUE

WHAT Narendra Modi SAID

Centre launched a new scheme ‘Ayushman Bharat’ for the poor people; 70 lakh people already benefitted but Didi put a brake on it

TRUTH

Bengal has a better health insurance scheme Swasthya Sathi with cover upto Rs 5 lakh. We also provide free treatment for all in Govt hospitals

Source: Millennium Post
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TRUE

WHAT Narendra Modi SAID

PM KISAN scheme would have benefitted 70 lakh farmers in Bengal, but Didi put a brake on it

TRUTH

Real income of farmers in India has lessened by 6.5% in the last five years. In Bengal farmer income has tripled from Rs 91,020 in 2010-11 to Rs 2.91 lakh in 2017-18

Source: The Economic Times
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WHAT Narendra Modi SAID

Why is the development of tea gardens being halted?

TRUTH

Centre was supposed to take over seven closed tea gardens in 2016 but didn’t do anything. Bengal Govt has brought all people living in tea gardens under Khadya Sathi scheme. Full exemption from payment of Education Cess and Rural Employment Cess

Source: The Hindu Business Line
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WHAT Narendra Modi SAID

We have brought a strong law against human trafficking. We will implement it strongly in Bengal

TRUTH

CID has issued notices to BJP leaders Kailash Vijaywargiya and Rupa Ganguly in connection with the child trafficking case in which BJP’s youth leader Juhi Choudhury was arrested. BJP candidate for this year’s election from Coochbehar, Nishit Pramanik has 11 non-bailable charges against him, which includes human trafficking

Source: The Economic Times , The Pioneer
FALSE
TRUE

WHAT Narendra Modi SAID

Didi as Railway Minister did nothing for north Bengal

TRUTH

New Mal Junction for Changrabandha, new railway line connecting Haldibari-Mekhliganj-Changrabandha, New Coochbehar – Golakgunj of New Maynaguri – Jogighopa, New Coochbehar-Golakganj, gauge conversion of New Malda Junction-New Maynagori Road, among many others

Source: Indian Railway, India Today
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TRUE