Allegations won't stand: Mamata to 'those indulging in political vendetta'

Without mentioning the Narada sting operation, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday said that those allegations would not stand — they would be proved false very soon.

"Those allegations will not stand. You will see that soon. Those allegations will be proved false," the chief minister said while delivering a speech after inaugurating the S L Dhanuka Girls' Hostel founded by C K Dhanuka's Dhanuka Dhunseri Foundation. Mayor Sovan Chatterjee was also present at the event.

"I am not scared of those (CBI probe on Narada sting operation) things. If they would break one group of mine, I can give birth to 1 lakh leaders," Banerjee further said, indicating that a political vendetta campaign had been taken up against the Trinamool Congress by the BJP government at the Centre.

"What they (the Centre) are doing is political pollution. It is political vendetta. They are scaring people with the CBI," the chief minister added.

She advised business leaders to form groups and protest against any political vendetta by the Centre. "Do not be scared ofthe CBI so much. You pay your taxes. So why are you scared so much? You should make groups and protest against such threats," Banerjee said.

"Most of you are members of Assocham, CII or Ficci and other business organisations. But why do you not stand beside other businessman when they are in trouble. You should make a group and protest," the chief minister advised the business leaders present on the occasion.

She asked them about the effects of demonetisation on their business but quickly added, "I know many of you cannot share your experiences with me. The CBI may start probes against you if they see you talking to me," Banerjee . Businessmen should make groups to protest against such threats she said. They should stand up against such threats if one of their members of the fraternity would be attacked.

The chief minister even advised Abhishek Dalmiya, one of the city-based industrialists, to make small groups. "Abhishek, young business leaders should make such small groups. These groups have to work together," she said.

However, Banerjee assured that she would be always with the businessmen. "I am always with you. But you should work for the betterment of society. Companies need to do welfare work under their corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme," the chief minister said.

Speaking on development, she referred to the Metro rail construction works in the city. "I can remember that I received criticism while allocating money for those Metro rail projects. Now the work is underway.

After completion of the project, these tracks will solve the transport problems in the city," she observed.

The chief minister invited the industrialists to invest in manufacturing so that employment is generated in the state. But she also pointed out that 'concrete structures' alone do not constitute industry. "This is the age of technical advancement. Heavy structures can be shifted from one place to other so easily," she said.

The chief minister said that the international convention centre at New Town would be completed soon. "Boby (Firhad Hakim, state urban development minister) informed that that work has almost completed.".

She also informed that West Bengal has achieved 6 per cent growth in infrastructure development. "We have a Rs 40,000 crore debt on us. But the state government has been able to provide rice for Rs 2 per Kg, we treat people free of cost in government-run hospitals, we have set up 307 pediatrics units in hospitals, you can find ICCU, mother and child care hub. You can find a milk bank at SSKM hospital," the chief minister noted.

"Recently, we introduced laws on clinical establishments as well as a law against ransacking of property. Everybody should remember that there are two laws. Both the parties have to be cautious about their approach," she concluded.