Mamata campaigns in Malda, lambasts opposition

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday lambasted the Congress and CPI(M) and termed their alliance  as” fake, unethical” and said that people would never support the opportunistic tie up.

Like 2011, Banerjee on Wednesday kick-started her poll campaign from Malda. She addressed a rally at Englishbazar. Trinamool has fielded 12 candidates in Malda including Abu Naser Khan Chowdhury, brother of ABA Ghani Khan Chowdhury.

The Trinamool chief maintained that the alliance between Congress and the CPI(M) was not a new one. She said she had formed the Trinamool Congress after she found that the Congress had become the B team of CPI(M). “ Today’s alliance is a drama and this has been going on for many years,” she said adding that Trinamool’s allegation that Congress was a B team of CPI(M) had now become a proven fact and the party should take the credit of unmasking both the Congress and CPI(M).”

She wondered how could the rank and file accept the unholy alliance which was not based on any ideology? “There was a time when I was the only MP but I did not comprise with ideology,” she said adding: “CPI(M) is the biggest ally of the BJP and the former had helped it to come to power in Delhi.”

Criticizing the CPI(M), Banerjee said it was really funny when CPI(M) talked about the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. “Our memory is very fresh and the party should answer who was behind the killing of 18 monks and nuns of Anandamargis? It should also answer who had killed the refugees at Marichjhapi and the workers in Netai.” She said that during the CPI(M) regime, the Maoists used to murder one person every day but now, it has completely stopped and the law and order situation was peaceful in Junglemahal.  She said that the report of the Crime Records Bureau had clearly said that the law and order situation in the state had improved in 2014-15 than 2010-11.

Banerjee who is confident of the victory of the candidates said that people of the state were with Trinamool Congress. Projects like Kanyashree and those taken under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) had bagged national awards. Sabuj Sathi and Khadyasathi had given immense benefit to the rural people. 

The administrative meetings held in the districts have yielded good results. Getting caste certificates is not a big deal now.

Banerjee regretted that for various reasons Trinamool Congress could not set up its ground in Malda, Murshidabad and North Dinajpur. There was a time when Trinamool Congress could not send its symbol to these districts but the situation has changed and the party had strengthened its base in these districts. 

“The people are with me and I am confident they will cast their votes in favour of our candidates,” she said. Party veteran Mukul Roy also spoke at the meeting and said that people would not forgive the unholy alliance between Congress and CPI(M).