TMC has already ensured 50% reservation for women in govt jobs: Mamata Banerjee on BJP manifesto

Even as the BJP promised 33% reservation for women in government jobs along with free healthcare, free school education, free public transport for women and girls, in its manifesto released on Sunday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee pointed out that she had already ensured 50% reservation for women in government jobs.

Accusing the BJP of copying her manifesto, she told people in Bankura on Monday that women were the most insecure in BJP-ruled states. She addressed three rallies in Bankura district’s Kotulpur, Indas and Barjora areas, which will go to polls in the second phase.

Referring to the farmers’ movement in North India which had rocked the country, she said the three farm bills were ‘Kala kanoon’ (black laws).


“We will not allow the Central government to touch farmers’ produce. They are looting farmers’ land,” Banerjee said.

Privatisation of the Durgapur Steel Plant and other steel plants, corporatisation of the Railways, “closure” and merger of banks and the increase in prices of LPG, diesel and petrol have been some of the main issues Banerjee has been highlighting in all her campaign rallies, holding the BJP-led central government responsible for the anti-people moves.

“The CPI-M and Congress are teaming up with the BJP. So people should be cautious and vote for the TMC to prevent the BJP from getting a single vote,” the chief minister said.

The state government has promised to provide clean drinking water to 73,000 people in Bankura through the ‘Jol Swapno’ project. Banerjee also promised to build thirty lakh houses for the poor if voted to power for the third time.

Similar promises have been made by the BJP in its manifesto and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in several rallies in the backward regions of the state.

Mamata reiterated that the BJP has sent outsider (‘Bohiragoto) goons to Bengal. She claimed that there is peace in areas which were once a hot-bed of the Maoist movement.