BJP govt at Centre should withdraw farm laws or steps down: Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday contended that the Bharatiya Janata Party government at the Centre should immediately withdraw the "anti-people" farm laws or step down.

Addressing a rally in West Midnapore district, Banerjee asserted that she would rather stay in jail than "remain silent or put up with BJP's misrule".

"The BJP government (at the Centre) should immediately withdraw the farm bills or step down. It should not continue to remain in power after sacrificing the rights of the farmers," she claimed.

Slamming the BJP as a party of "outsiders", the feisty Trinamool Congress boss said she would never allow the saffron camp to take control of Bengal, and urged the people of the state to resist any such attempt.

She further announced that her government would continue to dole out free ration beyond June next year, after her party returns to power for the third consecutive time.

Elections to the 294-member West Bengal assembly are likely to be held in April-May next year.