Banerjee goes all guns blazing against CPI-M

Raising a shrill pitch against the CPI-M, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday accused goons linked to the party of killing nine Trinamool Congress workers after the assembly polls were declared and promised to give a befitting reply legally after her party returns to power.

"CPI-M goons have killed nine of my workers after elections were declared. I won't spare them. I won't reply with murder for murder. But in each of the cases, justice will be done. And those aiding them, remember, they also won't be able to escape the arms of the law," Banerjee said at an election rally here in Bankura district.

"We will teach them a lesson, inch by inch."

Banerjee said her government had been polite to leaders and workers of the Communist Party of India-Marxist after coming to power in 2011, though they had created terror and resorted to widespread killings during their 34-year rule.

"We won't allow you to again create terror in Bengal. We have been very polite to you. a you have murdered, committed atrocities. But we never took revenge."

Accusing the Marxists of resorting to a campaign of lies, canards and misinformation, she said: "We will replay inch by inch to your lies."

Targeting the Congress, which has tied up with the CPI-M led Left Front in the state, Banerjee said "both Congress and CPI-M were utterly shameless".

She asked the Congress what it has done for the state during its long years in power at the Centre.

"It is because of your failures that the BJP has come to power in Delhi. First set your own house in order. And then run after the CPI-M."