Subsidy on essentials Centre's 'social obligation', says Mamata

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday came down heavily on the Centre for its decision to gradually abolish the LPG subsidy which would have an adverse impact on the common people.

She was speaking at a government programme at Chopra in Uttar Dinajpur where she inaugurated a series of new projects. Launching a scathing attack against the BJP-led government, Banerjee said the prices of various essential commodities are going up due to the anti-people steps by the Centre.

"The Centre is trying to do away with the LPG subsidy. The supply of essential commodities including sugar, kerosene has stopped causing serious problems to the people who are the worst sufferers," Banerjee said.

She said that the Centre is doing nothing great by providing subsidy in an essential commodity like LPG because it is a "social obligations" of the Centre to provide some benefits to the people.

"One must not forget that it is the social obligations of a government to provide some benefits to the people. A government has its own income and hence it is the responsibility of a government to help people with financial benefits. It is not government's money. People have a right to enjoy some subsidies since it is public money," Banerjee said.

"Despite the financial crunch, the Bengal government is carrying out a series of social projects for the benefits of the people. We extend the benefits of the various projects to farmers, poor, schedule castes, schedule tribes, backwards classes and tribes because it is our duty to stand by the people," Banerjee maintained.

She also took a dig at the Centre for slashing the interest rate on savings account deposit. State Bank of India on Monday decided to slash the interest rate on savings account by 0.50 percent.

"Why the interest rate has been slashed? Is the Centre trying to force the people to deposit money in the chit funds?" Banerjee questioned. Without naming the BJP, the Chief Minister said that some political leaders are coming to the state from Delhi to incite violence. They are also trying to divide people in the name of religion. People here in Bengal are peace loving they do not indulge in any kind of violence, Banerjee said. Giving out a strong message against the Gorkhaland movement, Banerjee said that the Hills are an integral part of Bengal and they will remain to be so. There is no point in spreading violence. She urged the people to shun violence as it leads to nowhere. "People are facing serious problems in the Hills. Schools, colleges and hotels are shut down. Tourism and transport industries have been affected due to the agitation. There is no point in spreading violence as it affects the common people," CM said. Giving an account of the development works initiated by the state government, the CM said that a medical college will come up at Raiganj within the next two years. In addition to that, an ITI centre, a minority Bhawan and ICDS centers among many others have been set up in Uttar Dinajpur.