MAMATA VISITS COOCH BEHAR

Mamata wages war against Left Front in Dinhata

COOCH BEHAR, March 29: Since the panchayat elections a wind of change has started blowing in Cooch Behar district, hitherto known as the Red Bastion of the Left Front. The CPI-M had to surrender two Panchayat Samitis and a number of gram panchayat seats to its archrival, the Trinamul Congress.

Today, the Trinamul Congress chief Miss Mamata Banerjee came here aiming to fan the suppressed anger that the local Trinamul supporters kept hidden in their hearts against the CPI-M. The Trinamul supremo came down heavily on the CPI-M led Left Front during her address in a large gathering organised at Dinhata in support of the Trinamul Congress candidate, Mr Arghya Roy Pradhan.

In her own style Miss Banerjee said they would convert North Bengal a Switzerland if they come to power. Criticising the state government she alleged that nothing was done to better the tourism sector and false promises have been given in the name of industrialisation. Many tea workers are suffering, as a number of tea gardens are lying closed. Work for the much-awaited bridge at Adabari in Dinhata is yet to start. If they ever come to power they will build up a new North Bengal. Setting up of a separate secretariat for North Bengal is no separatist act and it is possible to do it from within the framework of state government machinery, she said.

The Trinamul chief said the CPI-M has no ideology. They were with the Congress at the Centre and so the Trinamul Congress kept a distance from the Congress. Now the CPI-M is trying to float a Third Front. It is nothing but an act of political circus, she said.

Miss Banerjee also criticised the Forward Bloc. She said five FB supporters were killed in Dinhata during a movement but the FB leaders are acting as tail of the CPI-M. They forgot the martyrs.

Referring the proposed visit of the Chief Minister, the Trinamul chief said the CM speaks of industrialisation but he sans any ideology or ethics. The state government is also betraying the PTTI students. The CPI-M led government is running armed with a section of the police force but they also deceiving the police as a whole, she alleged.

She recalled that during her days as Central Railway minister she launched the Uttarbanga Express. The New Mainaguri-Jogighopa railway project also got a momentum during her regime.   

As Dinhata is the stronghold of Forward Bloc and the FB candidate Mr Nripendra Nath Roy too is from this sub-division, Miss Banerjee choose this place to launch her missile attack against the Left Front.

The ex-Forward Bloc MP, who won eight times from the Cooch Behar seat, Mr Amar Roy Pradhan, now the chairman of Janabadi Forward Bloc, a Trinamul alliance ally, accompanied her. It is believed that she selected Mr Roy Pradhan's son as candidate to use his image as weapon against the LF. Mr Abu Ayesh Mondal, Mr Mukul Roy, Jalpaiguri candidate Mr Sukhbilas Barma and Congress leaders Mrs Sabita Roy, Md Fozle Haque (MLA) and Mr Biren Kundu also spoke.

Her visit may also act as a balm to soothe the grievances of the local leaders and their followers who got aggrieved over the selection of candidate.