Buddha, Mamata take war of words to Junglemahal

The war of words between Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Saturday touched a new low with the chief minister alleging she was a 'liar' and the Trinamool Congress chief accusing him of being responsible for spurt in Maoist activities.

"The CBI found that the Maoists were behind Jnaneswari Express derailment but she blamed it on Communist Party of India-Marxist. She is a liar and her party is one of liars," the chief minster told a rally in Bankura district.

Stating that the Trinamool Congress chief, who is the Railway Minister was flagging off trains daily, he said "she is flagging off trains every day and telling people lies. We have to drive out Trinamool Congress."

He also accused Trinamool Congress of having a nexus with Maoists who were creating trouble in ultra-affected pockets of the districts of Bankura, Purulia and West Midnapore collectively known as 'Junglemahal'.

"Bankura district in Junglemahal is facing a dangerous situation which it did not do earlier. The Maoists and Trinamool Congress are colluding to create trouble here," Bhattacharjee said.

In adjoining Purulia district, the Trinamool Congress chief told a rally "if there is a spurt in Maoist activities in the state, you (Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee) are responsible for it because you are in the government. You are also responsible for dacoity and sabotage."

She alleged when the poor people in Purulia, Bankura and Midnapore districts demanded food, they were dubbed as Maoists by the state government.

The TC supremo also claimed CPI-M's new strategy was to raise the bogey of Maoists before elections to hoodwink the people and ridiculed the state govenment's demand for more central forces.

She said that during 34 years of Left Front rule, there was no employment and the people in Purulia had not got 100 days work while there was no drinking water or irrigation facilities.

The TC chief said if her party came to power in the state, it would work for the development and set up a university and engineering and medical colleges in Purulia district.