Brinda Karat slams Mamata Banerjee; demands WB govt protect farmers' interest

RANCHI: CPI(M) Politburo member Brinda Karat today slammed the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal for being "indifferent" to the problems of farmers and demanded they be given them adequate support price to sell their paddy.

"For the first time in 34 years, there are reports of suicide by farmers in Burdwan district of West Bengal. Trinamool Congress government has not set up grain purchase kiosks for farmers, which has forced them to sell grains at very low price," Karat told a press conference here.

"Trinamool Congress came to power with the plank of Maa, Mati and Manush. But Manush (farmers) are committing suicide on their Mati (land)," Karat said, referring to reported suicide by farmers in Bengal.

Alleging that 446 CPI (M) cadres had been killed since 2009 in Bengal, the Left leader said "we would endure their atrocities against us, but the West Bengal government should protect farmers' interest by setting up adequate paddy purchase centres."