Accusing the Opposition of having a “crab mentality” trying to pull her down on every pretext, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said here on Friday that it was “very unfortunate” for the State that canards were being spread about the Trinamool Congress government when it was trying to work for the people despite financial constraints.
“Some people are just spreading canards, courtesy certain television channels. This is unfortunate for Bengal… They are holding on like crabs from all sides,” Ms. Banerjee said at a programme organised by the State’s Sports Department.
“I am not the one to be defeated this way,” she said.
Criticising the Centre for the financial crisis of the State, Ms. Banerjee said that the Reserve Bank of India was “unilaterally taking” away interest on the loans incurred by the previous Left Front government on the first day of each month.
“If we could get the money due to us like other States we could have done so much more,” she said.
Ms. Banerjee announced that Rs. 2 lakh each will be given to 1614 registered clubs for promoting sports in the State. The clubs will get Rs. 1 lakh for every five years subsequently.
Stating that in 2012 she had distributed Rs. 2 lakh to 781 registered clubs in the State, she said that it was a continuous process where the performance of the clubs being given the money would be reviewed after five years. “For this the outlay has been increased from Rs. 23 crore to Rs. 40 crore,” she said.
Referring to other developmental activities taken up by her government, she said that development on all fronts was going on in the State.
“There are major developmental activities going on in State; only spreading lies and canards against the government will not help,” Ms. Banerjee said.
