Mamata 'shocked' over 'raid' at Kejriwal's office

Standing by her Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday expressed "shock" over the CBI being sent to "raid" his office.

"Today, they have sent the CBI to raid the office of Delhi CM. I am shocked. Why are they doing this?" Banerjee said while addressing a public meeting at Gajole in Malda district.

In an apparent reference to the Centre's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, Banerjee said her party Trinamool Congress was not like those which use religion to meet political ends.

"We are not like some parties which love to use religion for petty politics. I believe in Saare Jahaan Se Achha, Hindustan Hamara," she said.

Going hammer and tongs against the central government for taking away funds from her state towards debt repayment, Banerjee said her party would intensify protests on the issue.

She said the "huge debt" was incurred by the erstwhile Left Front government led by the Communist Party of India-Marxist.

"The CPI-M incurred huge debt in the 34 years of its rule. Now we have increased our revenue but the Centre is taking away our money. We are paying for the sins of the CPI-M. They imposed debt burden on the youth. Neither the Congress nor the BJP helped us."

Banerjee said her government increased the annual revenue from Rs.21,000 crore to Rs.40,000 crore.

"But the Centre is taking away the major share of the revenue," she complained.

The chief minister challenged the Centre to stop taking away the money.

"We don't need their funds. We are asking for our right. We will not allow Bengal to be sold off due to debt burden. We will intensify our protests if necessary."

Banerjee said had the Centre not taken away the money, her government could have given jobs to lakhs of people.