At Birbhum to inaugurate the Deocha-Pachami coal mining project, Banerjee said some people, in an obvious reference to the CPI(M), always say that the present government only holds festivals. “Festivals are a sign that peace prevails in the state now. During the tenure of the last government, there was no peace in the state,” she said
“During their time, only skeletons were unearthed. There was no peace in the state. What did they do in the past 34 years? They were involved in unleashing terror. They are now criticising us. They do not see the various development works that had been initiated in the last four years. They do not have eyes to see the works and they are always cynical,” Banerjee said.
She also gave a detailed account on what her government had done ever since it came to power. Referring to the Singur incident, Banerjee said they tried to “kill people but we (Trinamool Congress) saved them”.
Referring to the past government, she said they did not take any development initiative in their tenure and now they have come out to criticise this government. “Many development works were undertaken. Many of these projects have already been completed. Various new projects have been initiated. We are setting up 41 multi-super-specialty hospitals in the state, some of which have already come up. The rest will be completed by the middle of this year. Many sick neo-natal care units, critical care units, high dependency units have been opened at various hospitals. We are distributing rice and wheat Rs 2 per kg among 7 crore people under food security scheme. But these people see nothing,” she said.
“Kanyashree and Sabuj Sathi projects have become a big success. Many are getting benefits of these projects. More than 16,000 students have been given scholarships. We have distributed cycles among more than 40,000 students under Sabuj Sathi scheme,” Banerjee said.
About the Birbhum project, she said: “Today, we have inaugurated a coal mining project, the expenses of which will be around Rs 22,000 crore. An industrial town is coming up at Pabagarh.” Taking on the land policy of the past government, she said: “We never supported forcibly acquiring land, and hence, created land bank. We have enough land, where more industries will be coming up. These people are blind to all development works.”
In reply to a slogan coined by ex-CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee in a recent meeting at Singur “Krishi amader vhitti Shilpo amader bhobiswat”, Banerjee gave one of her own saying, “Krishi amader gourav Shilpo amader sourav (farming is our pride and industry is our fragrance).”