Kolkata (West Bengal): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), saying that while the state government does all the work, the central government, headed by the BJP, is only focused on advertising.
"We work and they advertise. If they had given the money spent on advertisements to labourers, then there would not have been the MGNREGA protests. We have never seen anything like this," the Chief Minister said at Kolkata's Posta while inaugurating the Jagadhatri Puja organised by the Posta Bazar Merchants Association.
"You can only gain some through advertisements. But these are not permanent. Seats can come and go," she added.
Mamata said that the Trinamool Congress government cares about labourers and vegetable vendors.
"Labourers do construction work. But after the construction of the building is over, no one thinks about the labourers. We do. We care for those who sell vegetables," she said.
The Chief Minister said that though she has fought for 34 years with the CPM government in West Bengal, his struggle continues against the central government.
"I had fought for 34 years with the CPM and now I have to fight against the central government. They have stopped all transactions of money, including those for the poor and the labourers," Mamata said.
Charging the BJP of inciting riots during elections, Mamata advised, "Live in unison. Do not listen to anyone. During elections, they (BJP) conduct riots."
Accusing the BJP of changing the practice jersey of Indian cricket players to saffron, she said, "We are proud of our Indian players and I believe that they will be the World Cup champion. They (BJP) have even turned their practice jerseys to saffron."
Mamata said that the BJP government is "selling" India and thousands of industrialists have left the country.
"They are only selling India. 70000 industrialists have left India. This means the Rupee is flowing out," she said.
Exuding confidence that West Bengal will lead the country to a new alternative in the Centre, Mamata said, "Let good sense prevail. Bengal will lead the country once again."
The country will go to polls in 2024. Mamata Banerjee is one of the strongest opponents of the Narendra Modi-led BJP government and is a part of the opposition INDIA bloc to take on the Modi juggernaut.
—ANI
