Mamata raps Centre, alleges conspiracy against her government

Kolkata, April 4: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday slammed the centre’s ruling BJP/NDA on a plethora of issues, including cattle and coal smuggling and alleged that a conspiracy was on to tarnish the image of the state and her government. Speaking to media persons at the State Secretariat Ms Banerjee alleged that the BJP was playing politics with deaths and said, “They are plotting, trying to discredit the state.” However, the Chief Minister also made it clear that she would deal with it politically. She accused the BJP of trying to tarnish her image by making a video viral about some youths abusing and threatening the Vice-Chancellor of Aliah University. She alleged that the central government was conspiring against Bengal by using its agencies like the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation. Virtually holding the Central paramilitary forces responsible for coal and cattle smuggling, she said coal mines are guarded by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and it is the responsibility of the Border Security Force (BSF) to look into the issue of cattle smuggling across the border. “Both these forces are under the Ministry of Home Affairs. So, who is responsible for trafficking in these cases? This question has to be raised. “This is not in our hands. What can the state do? And the source of this trafficking is elsewhere… Cattle and coal are being smuggled from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Assam to Bangladesh. Why isn’t the centre active in stopping the source of trafficking?” Banerjee questioned. The CBI) has launched an investigation into allegations of coal and cattle smuggling, and has already summoned for grilling several Trinamool (TMC) heavyweights. Banerjee further added that since the time of the lockdown, there has been a warning about the movement of trucks in the border area. But that warning was not acted upon. Meanwhile, Banerjee handed over the appointment letters to the family members who lost their relatives in the Rampurhat incident. The chief minister said the country’s economy is being ruined. But without looking at it, the central government is trying to take everything into its own hands, diverting people’s attention. Banerjee further complained that the price of petrol and diesel has gone up 11 times in the last 13 days. The price of cooking gas has gone up. The Chief Minister repeatedly expressed concern over the poor state of the country’s economy. According to her, the central government should immediately hold talks with all parties. She alleged that the BJP was causing various incidents to divert people’s attention from the economic situation of the country. To a poster on the Aliah University incident, Banerjee said the moment the incident came to light, the police and the administration took action. Police have been active in the Aliah University incident. The accused has been arrested. “The student has been arrested for speaking harshly. But no one is talking about Visva-Bharati. Has the VC of Visva-Bharati been arrested? A lot has happened for which the VC of Visva-Bharati is responsible,” she averred. “In fact, everything is a conspiracy to discredit Bengal, we have to stop defaming Bengal,” she said. (UNI)