Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee warns Left

KOLKATA: Launching a scathing attack on CPM for yesterday’s violence in the city, chief minister Mamata Banerjee today said that her government would not tolerate ‘politics of riots’ and ‘befitting reply’ would be given.

Warning the CPM leaders, she said, “Do not dare to challenge me on anything. It will take less than a minute to destroy you. But we do not believe in revenge politics and politics of blood. We believe in politics of culture and courtesy. We got violence in the name of protests in return. People will judge everything.”

Saying that CPM has again resorted to politics of lawlessness, she added, “Those who pushed Bengal to the brink of destruction, left a legacy of huge debt are dreaming of coming back to power. Forget about 2016 assembly election. CPM would not be able to return in 3016 too.”

Pointing out at the violent clash between the CPM cadres and the police, she said “Protests do not mean goondagiri. We have also protested when we were in Opp. We never resorted to violence. The people have rejected the CPM. There is no bigger judge in democracy than the people,” she added. “They are talking of Nabanna Abhiyan? Have they forgotten what they did on 21 July 1993?” she asked.

Hinting at the bandh called by 17 Left parties on September 2, she said, “We do not support the culture of bandhs. We believe in good governance. Calling bandhs at the drop of hat has become the hobby of the Opposition. We will not tolerate any bandh or strike.”