At a recent speech in Bengal, prime minister Narendra Modi stirred a controversy with his remark related to the flyover tragedy in Kolkata that left at least 27 dead.

Modi was addressing an election rally at Madarihat in north Bengal when he brought up the Kolkata tragedy as a poll plank.

He said the tragedy was God’s message to people to save Bengal from the Trinamool Congress (TMC), which is headed by Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee.

He went on to say that the collapse of the bridge was an act of god as it happened during election time. So this should give people a message that they should get rid of the current government.

“God has sent a message to the people — that today this bridge has collapsed, tomorrow she will finish off entire Bengal,” he said.

Watch the video here:

The statement came under heavy criticism from TMC MP Derek O’Brien who posted a detailed response on his Facebook wall, saying “what PM said was unbecoming of his high office, more like a Shakha Pramukh.”