CPI-M questions Mamata's silence on chit fund scam

Questioning West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's silence on the chit fund scam at the Trinamool Congress martyrs' Day rally on Tuesday, state CPI-M secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra on Tuesday held her responsible for the scandal.

Mishra refered to Banerjee asking those involved in construction syndicates and illegal mining to leave her party Trinamool Congress at the rally.

"But she remained mum on the chit fund scam. And how can she say anything? Because if she says the same thing about the chit fund scandal, then she will herself find no place in the Trinamool as she is responsible for the scam," he told media persons here.

The Communist Party of India-Marxist politburo member also ridiculed Banerjee for terming the state's opposition parties including the Trinamool as "hodgepodge" parties.

"Her party Trinamool itself is a hodgepodge party. Such is her idealism, that in the past she has constantly swung from the Congress to the BJP and then back to the Congress in making electoral alliances. Now the situation is so that she is not in a position to join the Bharatiya Janata Party directly.

"But she is sending mangoes to their leaders in secret," he said.

Describing Banerjee's claims of development in the state as blatant untruth, Mishra said under her, Bengal is heading towards destruction.

"She has destroyed agriculture, she has destroyed industries," he said.