Kolkata/Debra: Rahul Gandhi today said he could forsee a new partnership brewing between Mamata Banerjee and Narendra Modi in days to come and the Congress vice president proffered a unique explanation to back his claim.
"If you spell Mamataji`s name, you will find Ma-ma-ta. The first Ma is Mamata and the next Ma is Modi. The partnership is brewing," Rahul said an election meeting here.
He also reminded people that there was a partnership earlier between Banerjee and the BJP-led NDA when the alliance was in power.
Recalling the good vibes between his father late Rajiv Gandhi and Banerjee, Rahul regretted that she betrayed the Congress after coming to power.
"I have immense respect for Mamataji. She had worked with my father.
Whatever I say against her is out of respect and affection and not out of anger.
Later on she left the Congress, then forged an alliance with it, but after coming to power she betrayed it," Rahul said.
He then turned his focus on the Saradha chit fund scam, alleging that the TMC government was trying to save those who were involved in the scandal.
"Mamataji had fought against the Left regime, she had fought against corruption then. But after coming to power, the Saradha chit fund scam occurred in which lakhs of people were looted.....The state government should have taken action, but it kept mum," he said.
He also referred to the primary teachers recruitment controversy where the state has failed to take action, saying "Mamataji was good as opposition leader, but she is unable to run the state government. She is failing to run the state government".
The state government also failed to implement the Food security Act and the 100 days work scheme in the state, the Congress vice-president charged reminding that it was "we who had framed the Food Security Act in order to provide food to the poor, but the TMC overnment has failed to implement it," said Rahul.
"Other Congress-ruled states provide 100 days of work,
whereas Bengal is providing only 35 days of work. Why is the state government failing to do provide 100 days of work," Rahul wondered.
He accused both the ruling party and the erstwhile Left regime of failing to develop industries in the state which would have created employment opportunities.
Earlier at a meeting in Debra in the Ghatal constituency, Rahul alleged that the ruling party worked only for the party and had failed to usher in change.
"We want to include and work for the poor, but the government here works for the party. If you are not a Trinamool worker then you do not get any benefit in the state," Gandhi said.
"You will get beaten up if you belong to any other party. You will be suppressed and work will not be done in a democratic way," he said.
He alleged that Congress workers who were beaten up earlier by Left supporters were now being assaulted by the ruling party men.
"It is a matter of regret that red flags have been removed. Green flags have come, but nothing has changed in the state," he said.
He also countered the charge that the Centre was not providing money to West Bengal, saying, "We send thousands of crores from Delhi. We sent money which was five times more than what was given by the previous NDA government. They used to give Rs 5,000 crore. We gave Rs 26,000 crore."
