Mamata slams opponents in Jalpaiguri....Mamata’s subtle approval for Alipurduar district

EOI, JALPAIGURI /COOCH BEHAR, 12 Apr 2014 : Taking a dig at the BJP and its prime ministerial candidate, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused Narendra Modi of stoking communal violence and his party of being opportunist and plotting to bifurcate Bengal. The CM made the allegations while addressing a public meeting at the Sports Complex ground in Jalpaiguri town.

Mamata mocked the saffron party referring it as a “cuckoo bird of spring” for remaining more or less non-functional in state politics throughout the year. He appealed to the electorate not to vote for the BJP in order to resist a communal organisation from capturing power at the Centre and to maintain the integrity of the state intact.

The CM did not spare other political parties either. She vehemently condemned the Congress led UPA government as a corrupt one and for depriving the state from funds needed to intensify development.

Referring to the Pradesh Congress leadership, Mamata said, “Aage banglar Mukhe bhat dao, tarpor vote chao” (meaning feed the people of Bengal first before asking for votes).

Further, the CM accused the erstwhile Left Front government of paralysing the economy of the state in its 34-year rule. She said the former government has thrown the state into a deep abyss of debt posing a great difficulty for her government to execute development works across the state. In her words, “The former Left Front regime committed the sin, but the present government is suffering the outcome.”

Mamata said the common people of the state passed their days in great misery during the rule of the LF and she appealed to them against casting a single vote for the front.

Ignoring her nationwide criticism for commenting against the Election Commission of India, the CM today again took the commission head on. She said the ECI has permitted a candidate to spend up to Rs70 lakh for campaigning but it is still not allowing the Trinamool Congress to use party flags, banners, festoons and other items to endorse its candidates.

Moreover, Mamata criticised the ECI for outlawing bike rallies as part of the poll campaigning process. Meantime, the CM, also the chief of the TMC, expressed discontent about activities and performance of some local TMC leaders. She sought to bring change in the district party leadership in the presence of Jalpaiguri district TMC president Chandan Bhowmik.

On the other hand, while addressing another public meeting at Sanhati ground in Dinhata sub-division under Cooch Behar district, Mamata today picked on Indo-Bangladesh border enclaves and Teesta water-sharing issues.

Addressing the election campaign meeting the CM, said her government will take a view on the enclave issue after ascertaining the wishes of the people residing in the debatable areas.

In 2011, the TMC, then an ally of the Congress-led UPA government, had backed out from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Bangladesh opposing the Teesta water-sharing treaty between India and Bangladesh.

Touching on Teesta water-sharing and defending her stand on the issue, the TMC chief said "Why did I speak out on Teesta (water sharing)? Now you are seeing that Teesta has dried. Situation has been made such that drinking water will not be available in upcoming days."

"I give justice. But I do not do anything unilaterally without thinking of the people," she said.

Accusing the local BJP of trying to rake up the enclaves issue to gain votes, she said the Left Front government had not done anything either, but her government was undertaking survey a census.

She said, "There was not a single BJP member present throughout the year to address the enclave issue. But when the election is around the corner, they dig out the issue and try to divide the people of Cooch Behar and Bangladesh to reap vote benefits."

The CM expressed strong reservations over the introduction of the Land Boundary Agreement Bill in the Rajya Sabha last December which envisaged exchange of about 161 enclaves held by India and Bangladesh and which have remained bones of contention.

SANJIB MUKHOPADHYAY, ALIPURADUAR, 12 Apr 2014: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today gave a verbal approval to the local people’s prolonged demand for a separate Alipurduar district while addressing a public meeting at the Parade ground in the sub-division. This will undoubtedly earn a strategic advancement for her party candidate from Alipurduar Lok Sabha constituency.

However, she today avoided making a direct announcement about her approbation for making Alipurduar into a district to escape the wrath of the Elcetion Commission of India but rather she subtly referred to it as a district more than once.

Meanwhile, the banner attached on the back drop of the stage also mentioned “Alipurduar district” which further cemented the belief of the locals that their beloved Alipurduar will soon earn the official status of a district.