Criticising the Left Front government in West Bengal, Congress President Sonia Gandhi Friday said unemployment has gone up during its prolonged rule while the law and order situation has deteriorated.

"West Bengal's development has been retarded during LF rule, unemployment has increased and law and order has deteriorated. Many Congress workers have been killed," Gandhi told a rally at South Malda College ground during a second round of electioneering in West Bengal.

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Gandhi who arrived here from Murshidabad said in a brief 10-minute speech that the UPA government had met all the demands of the state government.

"The state government has got everything from the UPA government they demanded". She also said after Independence, successive Congress governments had worked for the development of West Bengal.

Keeping in mind the erosion of Ganga and Padma rivers, a major problem in Malda and Murshidabad districts, Gandhi said that a task force has been formed and given its report. "We regard it as a national problem," she remarked. She said that the UPA government has taken steps for the uplift of the poor, backward classes, minorities and the unemployed. The National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme has been introduced for the unemployed, she said.

She recalled the contributions of Congress leader A B A Ghani Khan Chowdhury, who hailed from the district and died this month. He had worked for the development of Malda, she said, and called upon people to strengthen the party for ushering in development and progress in the country.

Complete coverage: Assembly elections 2006