: In a restrained but politically loaded speech, Chief Minister of Bengal Mamata Banerjee said that her policy to “stand by the poor” is making her unpopular among a section of people.
Even though, she targeted the Central Government for its “anti-poor” policies, she was avoided naming any party. She spoke for nearly 30 minutes at the Mati (Earth) Festival sponsored by the State Government in Bardhaman District.
Only a couple of days before Mukul Roy’s scheduled appearance before the CBI, the Chief Minister launched a counter attack against her political opponents claiming that her “pro-poor” policies are making her a pariah among the rich and the powerful.
“I am constantly subjected to unfair treatment and abuse and let me tell you why. If I provide further protection to people whose interests are already protected, they will start worshipping me. But I refuse to compromise with the interest of the poor,” she said and clarified that her policies will continue to comfort the “poor.”
“I am incapable of resisting the poor. If I am abused for being pro-poor, let it be, but I will not leave the poor,” she said.
Targeting the Union government, Ms Banerjee said that the country’s policy makers are no longer interested in “looking after” the interests of the people below the poverty line. “Central assistance for 100 day’s work is not reaching the State, the welfare budgets are facing a cut, while the cost of power, coal, gas or fertiliser is increasing and … please remember that good governance can never materialise by excluding the poor. Good governance has to include the poor,” said the chief of ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), who will be facing a host of elections in the coming months.
However, unlike in the past, while emphasising her commitment to the poor, Ms Banerjee underscored the “need” to focus on the industry. “I am neither keen to leave the poor, nor the industry… will provide the list of the industrial projects in the area (middle Bengal) tomorrow as I inaugurate the Trade Fair in Malda tomorrow,” she said.
