Mamata calls BJP arrogant, party hits back

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Thursday tore into the BJP accusing it of arrogance and trying to divide Hindus and Muslims in the state. The centre's ruling party hit back hours later, terming her comments "irrelevant" comments.

"Some people think they can win over India with money power. BJP got only 29 percent votes. It was not a mandate. My advice to BJP is to shed its arrogance," Banerjee said at a rally of the Trinamool Congress Chhattra Parishad here.

In an obvious reference to the recent by-polls at various parts of the country, where the Bharatiya Janata Party has suffered setbacks, she said: "Their balloon is already punctured. They should desist from trying to divide Hindus and Muslims. We will not tolerate any violence in Bengal."

Banerjee alleged that the criminals, who were earlier with the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), have now joined the BJP. "They are engaged in rowdy acts".

She said despite the political change at the centre, where the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance was voted out and the National Democratic Alliance headed by the BJP sworn in three months back, "nothing changed for the state".

Ridiculing the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana' (PMJDY) that was launched during the day, the chief minister said: "The centre is now taking about opening bank accounts. We have taken the initiative to set up banks in rural areas."

BJP Rajya Sabha member Chandan Mitra countered Banerjee.

"She says she won't tolerate. But she is ready to tolerate her legislator who says 'rapes will happen so long as the Earth exists'."

"I see no reason to respond to her irrelevant and fanciful comments," said Mitra.