Debagram: Without naming Narendra Modi who was elevated by BJP as its Lok Sabha election campaign chief, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Thursday said only a person who loved all sections of people could be a national leader.
"There are national leaders who love all sections of people and not just one particular section. Ramakrishna had said some call mother `ma` and some `amma`, Banerjee told a panchayat election rally here in Nadia district.
"In 1905, Rabindranath Tagore gave a call for Hindu-Muslim unity. Today Rabindranath and Kazi Nazrul Islam are weeping," she said.
"During polls BJP divide Hindus and Muslims along communal lines for votes," she alleged and said her government was working for the uplift of Muslims from their backwardness.
Banerjee claimed that BJP was not a political force in West Bengal, but had ganged up with CPI(M) and Congress as a `destructive combination`.
Speaking about Congress, she said the Centre was continuing schemes named after Rajiv and Indira Gandhi whom she admired, but questioned "How many projects are named after Swami Vivekananda and Kazi Nazrul Islam?"
Congress should be ashamed to seek votes after repeatedly raising the prices of petrol, diesel and fertiliser, she said adding, she had quit Congress "as the party was sold out to CPI(M)".
Turning to the panchayat polls, Banerjee alleged CPI(M) had gone to court over it.
"Earlier CPI(M) did not go to court, but sought votes. Now they are going to court," she said.
Accusing CPI(M) leaders of corruption during Left Front regime for 34 years, she said that she could have sent such leaders to jail, but did not.
PTI
