West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused BJP's allies in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) of exchanging ministerial positions for monetary gains.
“Have you ever heard such a thing that money was offered instead of ministries? They are cowards, greedy and shameless. They succumbed to the money. They sacrificed their own identities,” the Chief Minister said while addressing the Martyrs' Day rally in Kolkata.
Banerjee expressed her agreement with Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav's prediction that the current Central government is on the verge of collapse.
“BJP does not have a majority now. The way the incumbent Central government came to power by misusing the central investigation agencies and the Election Commission of India, it cannot last for long,” the Chief Minister said.
She also suggested that the BJP should have stepped down following Akhilesh Yadav's performance in Uttar Pradesh.
The Chief Minister alleged that there is a covert understanding between the BJP, Congress, and CPI-M in West Bengal, aimed at obstructing development efforts in the state.
“I am ready to offer 10 lakhs state government jobs. But whenever I try to announce such schemes for the people, they (BJP, Congress and CPI-M) approach the court with Public Interest Litigation (PIL). Sometimes they try to snatch jobs while other times they try to block the reservation facilities under backward class categories. But we are fighting them legally in the Supreme Court and will continue to do so. Under no circumstance we would allow their ploy to succeed,” the Chief Minister said.
Regarding the unrest in neighboring Bangladesh, Banerjee stated that the state government would not hesitate to provide refuge to those seeking asylum in West Bengal.
“I will not talk about what is going on in Bangladesh. It is the Central government’s job to talk about the issue. But if anyone knocks on our door for shelter, we will not hesitate to give them refuge. There is a directive from the United Nations that if anyone becomes a refugee in any country, the neighbouring countries should show respect towards them. We have deep sympathies for the people of Bangladesh,” the Chief Minister said.
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