Bengal minorities' expectation not fulfilled: Mukul Roy

Contradicting West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's claims, sidelined Trinamool Congress leader Mukul Roy on Sunday said the state government has failed to fulfill the expectations of the minorities.

Roy, while visiting Furfura Sharifi -- a much-respected shrine for Bengali Muslims -- credited the minorities for bringing the Trinamool to power in the state in 2011.

"Harbouring massive expectations, people had ushered in the change in Bengal. In bringing this change, the minorities played the key role. They had hoped this government will at least come close to their massive expectations. Was that fulfilled? No," said Roy.

"Some work has been done and some is unfinished. In the coming days, we all will cumulatively try to work for the welfare of the minorities. Not crocodile tears, we have to work to ensure minorities don't feel they are less," he said.

While addressing party rallies, Banerjee has often claimed of being the No.1 in minorities' welfare in the country.

Roy, a former railway minister, also expressed regret over Furfura Sharif yet to get railway connectivity.

A 19-km railway track connecting Furfura Sharif with Dankuni (both in Hooghly district) was announced by Banerjee, the then railway minister in 2009.

"Many including me had given many assurances in Furfura. But due to various reasons, those assurances have not materialised. Mamata Banerjee had tried to put Furfura Sharif on the railway map and even during my tenure as the railways minister, I could not complete it," he said.

"But this is for sure, so long as I am a parliamentarian and even after that, I will continue to approach the centre for completion of the project," he said.