Basirhat to be new district soon: CM

Haroa: Basirhat will be a new district soon, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced here on Friday afternoon and in the same breath alleged that the Centre had deprived Bengal just because she was opposing the BJP's wrongdoings.

Addressing a gathering, she said: "Basirhat will be a district soon. But you will have to give me some time as it takes some months to construct the administrative building and permission is required to set up a court."

On Thursday Banerjee had announced the formation of Sunderbans district at a meeting in Gosaba in south 24 Parganas.

She said once the district was created the people living in far-flung areas of Basirhat would be greatly benefited. It takes 35 minutes for those living near Basirhat town to reach Barasat. But, it takes Hingalgunj residents two to three hours to reach Basirhat.

Coming down heavily on the BJP she said questions had been raised about her closeness to the minority community. Quoting Sri Ramakrishna, she said: "When water is taken from a pond, some call it aqua, some jal and some pani," she said adding "Some call mother Ma, some Amma and some Mother." "Do they regard themselves to be better Hindus than Swami Vivekananda who had spoken about universal religion," she asked.

Banerjee alleged that the Centre was against her just because she was opposing the wrongdoings of BJP. "The Centre has stopped funding many projects just because I have opposed some of the wrong policies of BJP. I will stand with my head held high, and no one can force me to accept what is wrong." She further alleged that Centre had stopped disbursing funds for schemes under ICDS. However, the state government ensured the continuance of the schemes by managing funds from its coffers. The Centre has not paid any money to flood-hit farmers. " This is unjustified but we have given them support."

Banerjee maintained that BJP had failed to bring black money from foreign countries but forced many Indian people in business to move to other countries. "They cannot bring back black money but have forced businessmen to go abroad." She urged local people to identify outsiders loitering aimlessly in the area and inform the police immediately. "I have also asked the police to step up vigil and attend to such complaints immediately," she said adding "some people are trying to woo local people and local clubs. Lodge complaints against them immediately. BJP is trying to trigger riots. Riots cause loss of lives and we are against it."

The Chief Minister said the state government had given scholarships to 57 lakh students belonging to scheduled caste and tribal communities and another 31 lakh scholarships to the minorities. In the health sector, treatment in the state-run hospitals is free, and through various schemes, the state government has tried to help people belonging to all strata of life.