BJP govt's farmer schemes 'big hoax', asserts Mamata
Mandirbazar (South 24-Parganas): Coming down heavily on BJP, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that the announcement of schemes for farmers by the party is a "big hoax."
She said this while addressing a gathering in connection with the public distribution programme of various schemes here on Wednesday afternoon. About 20,000 people received benefits under various schemes.
She said Congress is waiving the loans of farmers after winning the election, but under the rule of Trinamool Congress, the income of farmers has gone up three-fold. Banerjee added: "We always work for the farmers and working class and despite financial constraints, whatever little money we have we try to divide among the poor and needy."
The Chief Minister said the condition of farmers has improved over the past seven years. She said more development will take place in South 24-Parganas and urged people to keep faith in her.
Banerjee alleged that BJP is circulating lies to divide people. By circulating lies, BJP is trying to divide people and incite one community against the other. "By spreading lies and canards, BJP is trying to divide people. They are trying to divide the adivasis and incite Hindus against Muslims and Christians against Sikhs. They have also insulted the Dalits. This is their policy and by dividing the society on the basis of caste and religion, they try to capture power. But this scheme will not work in Bengal where there is mutual respect among people belonging to different castes, creeds and religions. Bengal is the birthplace of Chaitanyadeb, Rabindranath and Swami Vivekananda. Our parents had taught us to respect people belonging to other religions," the Chief Minister said.
She asked the people's representatives to work for the people, listen to their grievances and spread the message of unity and peace. "We do not believe in violence and politics of hatred. You should go to people and spread the message of unity and respect."
Recollecting the past, she said: "In our time, books were not given free of cost and cost of medical treatment was high in state-run institutions. But now students in state-run schools get books for free, along with shoes, bags and even cycles free of cost. We want our boys and girls to win the world."
Banerjee said she would inspect the arrangements in Sagar island for the upcoming Gangasagar Mela and maintained that the state government would give Rs 5 lakh as compensation to the pilgrims dying in any accident between January 7 and 17, 2019, at Gangasagar Mela. Banerjee will hold an administrative review meeting near Kakdwip in this regard on Thursday.
