By IANS,
Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee Saturday warned the Trinamool Congress not to try the patience of the communists in the state and slammed the main opposition party for spreading violence across the state.
“After the results of last year’s Lok Sabha elections, the Trinamool Congress has been spearheading violence in the state. I am warning Trinamool leaders and supporters not to try the patience of the communists, or else the Left supporters would teach them a lesson so that they won’t dare to indulge in violence in future,” Bhattacharjee said while addressing a political rally organised by the state Left Front in Cooch Behar district.
“The Trinamool Congress cannot do whatever they want in the state and destabilise the law and order situation. If they think they will beat up Left supporters and we will digest their assault without any protest, they are wrong,” he said.
The chief minister also turned down the demands for a separate Gorkhaland state and Greater Cooch Behar carved out of northern parts of the state.
“If there is any problem in a state, it doesn’t mean we should demand a separate state. This is absolutely ridiculous. We can have talks regarding the problems and resolve the issue,” said Bhattacharjee, adding: “We will not accept the division of Bengal.”
Talking about the policies of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) central government, he said: “The central government is doing nothing to control the price rise. Last week, I met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at a meeting in the capital to discuss the issue.
“I suggested to him to increase the agricultural production and provide all the state governments with money so that we can provide more food grain to the poor at lower rates through rationing system.”
Bhattacharjee said for the past few months, his government was providing rice at Rs.2 per kg to the poor. “We are also trying to provide pulses and edible oil at cheaper rates through the public distribution system,” he added.