Centre is partial, has turned hostile to our government: Mamta Banerjee

TEHATTA/KOLKATA: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has accused the Centre of non co-operation and said that "the Centre used to help the previous CPIM government in our state, but not helping our government."

The chief minister was addressing a public gathering at Tehatta in Nadia district where one person was killed in police firing last month. "We are not receiving any help and support from the Centre. But the Union government had helped the previous CPIM-led government a lot and allowed it to borrow money indiscriminately for which our government is now facing with an acute financial crisis. The Centre is now silent and we are not getting any support from them," Mamata told the crowd.

The chief minister has reiterated that her government is still facing acute financial crisis mainly due to the huge volume of loans and borrowings made by the previous Left Front government. "All our money is being used to repay the huge loan taken by the previous government and the Centre is trying to block all avenues to get loans. The same Union government had allowed the previous CPIM-led government to make loans. Still, we are not helpless. We are working hard for the people of Bengal. I have settled the Jangalmahal issue. Crisis in the Darjeeling Hills is also over and I had promised to create ten lakh job opportunities in our five year tenure in the government and already more than two laklh opportunities has been created already," the chief minister added.

Trinamool Congress used to brand the West Bengal Congress as the "B-team of the CPIM." But the chief minister on Thursday attempted to send a signal that hobnobbing between the CPIM and Congress even at the national level was still on and the Centre which was very friendly with the previous Left Front government, had turned hostile to her and her government in West Bengal.

Clearly Mamata is trying to intensify her tirade against the UPA II government before the panchayat elections in West Bengal and at the same time, trying to gain the people's sentiment by highlighting the Centre's role.

She also said that "I won't accept any advice either from the CPIM or from Congress. Also I won't accept any advice from the BJP. I am ready to listen to advice from common people but not from these three political parties."

The chief minister also announced that her government will pay Rs 2 lakh to the family of Ashoke Sen who was killed in police firing at Tehatta last month.