While accusing “TMC goondas” of vandalising the bust of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar in Kolkata after violence broke out during BJP president Amit Shah's recent roadshow, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said his government would build a "grand statue" of the Bengali reformer made of panchaloh (five metals) at the same spot.

Addressing a rally in Mau, in eastern Uttar Pradesh, Mr. Modi accused the TMC workers of hooliganism and said “such people should be given the harshest of punishments.”

Mr. Modi said Vidyasagar was not only Bengal's “vibhooti” but also that of the entire country. “He was not only a great social reformer and educationist but also a guardian for the poor and the Dalits,” said the Prime Minister.

Targetting West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Mr. Modi said she did not accept him as her Prime Minister even though he was elected after “the blessings” of 130 crore Indians. “She considers the PM of Pakistan as PM. But not the PM of India,” said Mr. Modi.

Mr. Modi, who will address rallies later in the day in West Bengal, where campaigning has been restricted by a day, also said the Bengal Chief Minister was displaying an "anti-democratic mindset inebriated with power." Referring to his scheduled rally in Dum Dum in Kolkata, Mr. Modi wondered if the Bengal Chief Minister would allow it to happen.

“If she has her way, she won't even allow our helicopter to land,” he said as the tension between the TMC and BJP hits fever pitch.

Mr. Modi also tried to pit Ms. Banerjee and BSP chief Mayawati against each other a few moments after the latter extended solidarity towards the Bengal Chief Minister in the wake of the Election Commission cutting short campaigning in the state.

Earlier in the day, Ms. Mayawati accused the BJP of “targetting” Ms. Banerjee as part of a well-planned “conspiracy” to shift attention from its failures. Ms. Mayawati said it was a “dangerous trend” that the “guru-chela,” a slant reference to PM Modi and Mr. Shah, were relentlessly after her. Haath dhoke peeche padhe hai, she said in Hindi.

Mr. Modi shot back at her, saying like Ms. Mayawati targetted him and the Election Commission, he expected her to also have something to say to Ms. Banerjee for the way she targetted the people of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, calling them outsiders. “But it didn't happen. Because she doesn’t care for you but wants to play the game of chairs,” Mr. Modi told the crowd in Mau, which is in Ghosi Lok Sabha constituency that votes on May 19.