New Delhi: The Centre will extend support to
West Bengal government when needed to deal with Maoist menace
in the state, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said here
on Wednesday.
"The Chief Minister (Mamata Banerjee) is competent enough
to handle the situation and as and when she requires support,
we will extend that," Mukherjee told the Economic Editors
Conference here.
He was responding to a question about Banerjee setting a
seven-day deadline for Maoists to disarm themselves and come
to the negotiating table.
Asked about criticism that development activities were
concentrated in Murshidabad, his home district, Mukherjee said
it is is the "poorest" district in West Bengal and the whole
of India.
"It is also one of the most backward districts. You should
understand that setting up a university campus or an MBA
institution will benefit the people outside the district as
well," he said.
PTI
