Sonia accuses Mamata govt of shielding chit funds

Some of TMC leaders are under scanner of Enforcement Directorate (ED)'s investigation into the scam. Also Tomorrow, a day before the second phase of polling in West Bengal, Supreme Court may decide on ordering a CBI enquiry into the scam, which is consistently opposed by the TMC-government.

Congress president also accused the state government of playing politics over development of the state.

"Successive state governments of denying land for setting up an AIIMS like hospital in Raiganj. "It becomes a matter of sadness, when a state government plays politics over the issue of development. A politics which hampers development, which impediments welfare of the common people, such politics should not have a place in our democracy," she said.

"Had the state government properly implemented the MNREGA, the people here would not have had to venture out in search of livelihood. Be it the Left or the Trinamool, both have neglected development," she added.

Sonia Gandhi also hit out at Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alleging that leaders of the saffron party are crossing every limit of decency to malign the Congress and create a vicious environment across the country.

"In their bid to acquire the prime minister's chair they are creating a vicious environment across the country. It seems they do not have any faith in our country's social, political and constitutional traditions," Gandhi said.

"When for the sake of power they are spreading a net of lies, it is of concern to us how safe the country's democracy will be if such a party comes to power,"she noted.