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West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday took a swipe at a section of the media, particularly some electronic news channels, for targetting her government by dishing out "canards and exaggerated and negative news items" to show the administration in bad light.
"Wrong news items and canards are being circulated by a section of the media, particularly some news channels, to target her government. They are even distorting my own version," Mamata said after releasing the special puja (festival) edition of Trinamool Congress organ Jago Bangla, in Kolkata.
The chief minister alleged that these media were suppressing facts and thus causing "news pollution", pointing to projection of some rape incidents in the state.
"Everyday rape incidents are being highlighted as if the entire state has become the land of rapists. Rape is sought to be glorified by these people. This will not be tolerated by people. I would like to say that negative journalism only destroys and it is time to champion positive journalism," she said.
Banerjee alleged that news items were being tailored to serve business interests and that "in some of the media there exist dadagiri and didigiri".
Challenging those daring to control her government, she said instead of doing so in individual capacity, I would like to ask them to join politics and run the government.
Banerjee regretted that the positive side of her government was not being highlighted by these media and alleged these people are bent upon demolishing Bengal's culture.
Asserting that she has no lust for power, Banerjee said, "I will like to warn those spreading canards against me that it will not pay."
Continuing her tirade, Banerjee pointed out that these media had played the same role during the Singur movement. They were missing when "the Left Front snatched people's protest rights in its 34 years of rule".
She alleged that government files were still missing and human skulls were dug out in some areas.
The chief minister disapproved of the way some accidents and alleged suicide cases were being reported by a section of the media.
''Such ghastly pictures are repeatedly shown on channels. Recently two children jumped to death from a high-rise building. What is the use of recreating such incidents which cast negative impact on children's minds?'' she asked.
Claiming that Trinamool Congress "has no greed for power, she said that was the reason why she came out of the UPA government at the Centre.
"We advocated for Ma, Mati and Manush and work for them," she said in an apparent reference to her party's stiff opposition to FDI in retail, pension and insurance sectors as also withdrawal of subsidy on LPG cylinders and hiking diesel prices.
The chief minister was handed over a copy of Ei Samay, a Bengali daily of the Times of India group, which hit the stands on Monday, by its editor Suman Chattopadhyay.