BJP spreading hate politics in Bengal, feel TMC leaders

Kolkata: Without naming the BJP, state Urban Development minister Firhad Hakim on Monday came down heavily on the saffron brigade and accused it of spreading hate politics in Bengal.

He was addressing a gathering organised by the All India Trinamool Youth Congress' North Kolkata unit on Rani Rashmoni Avenue.

Hakim alleged that the BJP is trying to disturb communal harmony in Bengal.

"In Bengal, different communities have always lived peacefully. We follow the sayings of Sri Ramakrishna which says there are as many ways as there are views (jata mat toto path). But in the past few months, the BJP has tried to disturb the communal harmony of Bengal," he said adding: "Whom should we follow, the path shown by Sri Ramakrishna or the one showed by Mohan Bhagwat."

He said Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is a product of the mass movement. To end 34 years misrule of the CPI(M) and put an end to the reign of terror unleashed by the party, she had led mass movements and was successful in winning the confidence of the people of the state. Finally, the people of Bengal voted out CPI(M) and welcomed Paribartan in 2011.

"It is difficult to win the confidence of the masses. It requires a lot of patience and one has to understand the psyche."

Partha Chatterjee, secretary general of the Trinamool Congress, who presided over the gathering said there will be meetings to criticise the arbitrary banning of high-value notes by the Centre throughout the state till December 15.

Chandrima Bhattacharya, president Trinamool Mahila Congress, said a vast population of India today believes that banning of high-value notes has affected the country's economy and it was Mamata Banerjee who had first raised the issue and within half-an-hour after the announcement was made on November 8, 2016, she reacted sharply and said it would stall India's growth.

Bratya Basu, state IT minister, said demonetisation had affected people from all walks of life. Thousands of them lost their jobs throughout the country.

"Note ban along with GST have crippled the Indian economy," he added.