Won't let anyone disrupt communal harmony: CM

Kanksa (West Burdwan): Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said her government would not let anyone create differences between the Hindus and Muslims in the state and slammed the BJP for resorting to a "false propaganda" to malign her party.

Banerjee's comments came in the backdrop of a brutal killing of a labourer from the state in Rajasthan last week.

"One person from our state was burnt alive in Rajasthan. How long will this keep happening? I do not want to know whether he was Muslim or Hindu. In Bengal, we do not create differences between Hindus and Muslims, between Sikhs and Christians. We consider everybody as our family members," she told a public meeting here.

The Chief Minister, in an apparent dig at state BJP chief Dilip Ghosh, said some were raising the question as regards why would the people of Bengal go to the other states (for employment).

She said it was only normal for the people of other states to come to Bengal and vice versa.

"Can we tell our brothers and sisters from Rajasthan to leave Bengal?" she wondered.

The TMC supremo slammed the BJP for trying to "spread canards and a false propaganda" to malign her party.

Alleging that the BJP is spreading "hate and divisive politics in Bengal" she said the leaders have failed to understand the sentiments of the people of Bengal. Neither the communal card nor divisive politics will have any impact here, she said. "The leaders have failed to understand the sentiments of the people. Here in Bengal, the people belonging to different communities live happily and peacefully. Bengal is enriched with the philosophies of Swami Vivekananda, Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul and the people have always spoken about communal harmony.

Any attempt to destroy it will be dealt with seriously and people will throw away the party that tries to create division."

Banerjee cautioned Trinamool leaders, particularly Birbhum district president Anubrata Mondal, not to use "unparliamentary language to criticise the BJP." She said: "We should not use unparliamentary language. Our language is rich and criticism can be made without using abusive words."

Banerjee said despite heavy loan burden amounting to around Rs 40,000 crore the state government has taken up several pro-people schemes. "The people of Bengal do not beg. We have tried to look after them by providing financial assistance."

She said the people are getting Rs 2 per kilo rice and students are getting mid-day meals. Medical treatment in state-run hospitals is free. "We have to pay a loan of Rs 40,000 crore. But despite that, we have tried to help people from all walks of life. We have given stipends to 2 lakh artistes."

She further stated that a bridge will be constructed on river Ajay at an estimated cost of Rs 165 crore. Once constructed, it will reduce a distance of 20 km and the foundation stone will be laid in the first week of January. In lower Damodar basin, a sum of Rs 2,668 crore will be spent to combat flood and facilitate irrigation.

She urged gram panchayats, gram sabha, municipalities, Zila Parishads and Corporations to work sincerely for the development of the areas under their jurisdiction.