West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee slams Modi govt for not rescuing state from debt trap

Addressing a meeting in Gopiballavpur, from where Mamata began her two-day trip to Jangalmahal Wednesday evening, said that the Centre had curtailed funds for various projects, including those for the people in Jangalmahal (affected by Maoist activities earlier). “In spite of this (non-cooperation), we have created employment opportunities for a few lakh of people,” she claimed.

Mamata’s trip to Jangalmahal comes in the face of intelligence reports indicating a sustained effort by the Maoists to regroup in the area, following a period of hibernation that lasted four years. The CM had taken up the issue in her last meeting with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

A source in the Intelligence Bureau explained, “After the crackdown in West Bengal, Maoists had moved to Jharkhand. But with the BJP government there and the Centre maintaining a tough stance, they are once again looking to move back into West Bengal.”

With the Assembly election fast approaching, the TMC government does not rule out the concern that the Maoists would attempt to destabilise the area ahead of the elections next year. “There is a fear that Maoist forces will try and regroup in the area and then consequently look to destabilise the elections,” a source in the government conceded.

According to the CRPF, a surge in Maoists’ activities have been noted since early this year, with specific reports of Maoist movement coming from areas such as Binpur, Lalgarh and parts of Purulia. Joint forces of CRPF and West Bengal police have since been conducting raids in Jangalmahal, which comprises forested parts of West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia districts, to keep a tab on Maoist activities, said a senior officer.

Keeping the “fears” at bay, Mamata announced a host of development projects and laid foundation stone for some of them.

Adopting a promising tone, she said, “My government would never allow people in the state to suffer due to lack of development activities. We want people in Jangalmahal to live in peace with the help of all sorts of development activities. No project earmarked for them will be discontinued,” she said. The state government was also preparing Ghatal Master Plan to prevent floods in the area every year, she added.

TMC leaders said maintaining peace in Jangalmahal was “key” to Mamata’s political strategy for the upcoming elections.

“On the one hand development is taking place. But she’s also visiting the area frequently. This is important because it motivates the forces, but also keeps the spirits of the locals in the area high. Particularly with elections coming up in the state, it’s essential that peace continues to remain,” said a senior party leader.

On the occasion, Mamata launched the Sabuj Sathi project, besides inaugurating several projects, including a neem plantation in Gopiballavpur, water supply scheme, hostels for boys and girls, flood relief centres, Krishak Bazaars and roads and irrigation programmes, among others. She also laid foundation stone for a marketing hub-cum-training centre, several government buildings, a GNM training centre and a girls hostel at Jhargram hospital.

She also distributed bicycles to students under Sabuj Sathi, Kanyashree, Yuvashree and Sikshashree programmes, equipment to fishermen, kisan and artisan credit cards, different agricultural machineries and equipment, pattas and saplings, etc.

While listing various development activities in the state despite fund constraints, Mamata said that already 13 new universities and 40 super-speciality hospitals have come up in the state. ITIs were being set up in all districts and rice in subsidised rates were being distributed among people in Jangalmahal and several other areas.