Mamata: Punish Left leaders ‘who made Bengal bankrupt’

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Monday slammed the Centre for rejecting her demand for a three-year moratorium on the Rs 22,000 crore interest paid annually by the state on Rs 2.08 lakh crore loan taken by the Left Front government till March 31, 2011. She even demanded punishment for Left Front ministers "who made the state bankrupt".

Speaking at a programme announcing sops to Muslims ahead of the panchayat polls, Mamata attacked the CPM and Congress.

"We have done a lot for the minorities and want to do more. But the exchequer is in a poor state. People should raise their voice against discriminatory attitude of the Centre. On the first day of month, the Centre takes away whatever we earn. The Left government made the state bankrupt. The Left Front and CPM leaders responsible for this situation should be punished in front of the people," she said.

She criticised the media and defended chit fund operators. "The newspapers reporting against chit funds are getting money through advertisements of chit funds. One newspaper owner wants urban land ceiling limit to be withdrawn. But that will force the poor to leave Kolkata. One newspaper wants wakf property to be used for business, but we will not allow that," she said.

Giving details of upcoming projects, she said, "We have decided to build a medical college, 29 rural markets, 18 ITIs and eight polytechnics for the minority community."

Taking credit for bringing backward Muslims under the OBC quota, Mamata said, "Reservation for minorities in jobs is not permitted by the Constitution. This is why we are bringing minority communities belonging to backward classes under the OBC quota."

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