Tue Aug 26 10:01:02 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and rewritten news article based on the provided text:

**Summary:**

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has strongly criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent remarks accusing the people of West Bengal of being “thieves.” Speaking at a government program, Banerjee accused Modi of disrespecting her position and the state, particularly by withholding central funds despite the state having answered all queries regarding fund utilization. She alleged hypocrisy, pointing to corruption in BJP-ruled states, and accused Modi of only visiting West Bengal for election campaigning. She refuted corruption allegations and stated she will not tolerate Modi’s insult. This follows Modi’s earlier statement in Kolkata where he linked corruption, crime, and the Trinamool Congress.

**News Article:**

**Banerjee Fires Back at Modi, Accuses Him of Insulting West Bengal**

*Bardhaman, West Bengal – August 26, 2025* – West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, accusing him of disrespecting the state and its people. The outburst came in response to Modi’s recent public comments where he implied the people of West Bengal were thieves.

“The Prime Minister should respect my chair as I respect his. I never expected him to call the people of West Bengal ‘thieves’,” Banerjee stated during a government program in Bardhaman, where she was distributing social welfare benefits.

Banerjee vehemently denied allegations of corruption within her government, asserting that West Bengal has fully cooperated with all inquiries regarding the utilization of central funds. She accused the Modi administration of unjustly withholding these funds, placing a significant strain on the state’s finances.

“We have answered all your queries, yet you stop fund disbursement and call West Bengal ‘thief’,” she said. “They had sent 186 central teams to West Bengal to probe corruption charges and found nothing. We will not tolerate this insult.”

The Chief Minister also accused Modi of turning a blind eye to corruption in BJP-governed states like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Bihar. Furthermore, she criticized his election-driven visits to West Bengal.

Modi’s initial comments, made at a rally in Kolkata on August 22, asserted that corruption, crime, and the Trinamool Congress were “synonymous” and that central funds were being misappropriated by TMC party members.

Banerjee’s strong condemnation further escalates the already tense political climate between the Trinamool Congress-led West Bengal government and the BJP-led central government. The verbal sparring is expected to continue as the political landscape heats up.

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