Mamata blames political parties for instigating communal violence

KOLKATA: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said on Tuesday that "political parties often instigate communal violence for the sake of their own interests."

"Neither the Muslims nor the Hindus instigate communal violence, but political parties do so to protect their own interests. Please don't entertain any communal disharmony in your areas and maintain peace and harmony in your localities," the chief minister told a rally at Onda in Bankura district on Tuesday.

Mamata has completed her three-day trip to the Maoist-infested Jangalmahal by holding an administrative meeting at Onda and later addressed a public rally at the same spot. "I shall go straight to Loba village in Birbhum district from here," the chief minister told the Onda crowd.

Mamata is touring the Jangalmahal districts by car.

She will also reach Loba village by road and address a public rally there. Loba had witnessed police firing last month and several persons had received bullet injuries. The chief minister had announced that her government will bear the cost of treatment of the injured persons. She had also taken stern action by some officials of Birbhum district police for the firing.

Without referring to another incident of police firing at Tehatta in Nadia district where one person had died, the chief minister told the Onda crowd that "some local people had engaged in a scuffle over a local issue. But some political party leaders had tried to instigate these local people and tried to create a communal tension in the area. I urge you not to indulge in any sort of communal tension," Mamata told the gathering at Onda.

In Bankura, the chief minister had promised to carry out more development activities for the people of this economically backward district.

"We have introduced a drinking water supply scheme in Bankura district at a cost of Rs 1100 crore. Work for the project will start today. We have decided to set up four multi-speciality hospitals in Bankura. Such hospitals will come up at Onda, Chatna and Bishnupur. Bishnupur will also get a village hub. Eight model schools will also come up in Bankura district," the chief minister announced at Onda.

Claiming that her government had already set up 78 primary schools in the district, the chief minister also told the crowd that about 500 kilometre roads in rural areas will also be set up in the district by her government.

"A fair price medical shop will also be set up at the Bankura Sammilani Medical College to help the poor people to purchase medicine at a subsidised rate," the chief minister said.

The opposition CPIM, however, accused the chief minister of using government money to run campaigns for panchayat elections for her party.

The opposition leader and CPIM MLA, Surjya Kanta Mishra said on Tuesday that "the chief minister is using government fund and machinery for her tours in several districts. But she is practically running campaigns for her party for the ensuing panchayat elections at the cost of people's money."