India, May 29 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday targeted the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) government in West Bengal over the recent violence in Murshidabad and Malda, alleging that hooligans were given a free hand in the name of appeasement and the police were reduced to mere spectators.

"Whatever happened in Murshidabad and Malda was an example of the government's ruthlessness here... In the name of appeasement, hooliganism was given a free hand. Imagine the horrific situation when the people of a party running the government identify and burn people's houses, and the police act as mere spectators," Modi said, addressing a rally in West Bengal's Alipurduar.

"I ask the poor people of Bengal, is this how a gover...