Some people acting as agents of communal elements: Mamata flays media

In an apparent attack on a section of the media, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Monday accused "some people" of acting as "agents" of "communal elements" and "maligning" her party after the BJP came to power at the Centre.

"These days some people are acting as agents of a communal party. When the Congress was in power, then they acted as their agent. And when CPI-M (Communist Party of India-Marxist) was in power in the state, some people used to beat the drums of (then chief minister) Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee."

"Now, the BJP is in power and some people are acting as their agents and spreading lies and against the Trinamool and maligning my party," Banerjee said at a massive rally here, without naming the media.

"But let me state in unequivocal terms, if you spread canards against us, we will not do the same, we won't pay any heed to it. We will work for the people of Bengal. We will shower our love on the people of Bengal, and win over more people," she said.

The Trinamool rally was held to commemorate the death of 13 youths in police firing July 29, 1993, when the CPI-M-led Left Front was in power.

Originally observed as Martyrs' Day, it has now been christened by Trinamool as the Maa Maati Manush Divas (mother, land, people day).

Continuing the attack on her detractors, Banerjee said despite the "misinformation campaign" and the "canards", her government has made Bengal "the best state" in terms of industrialisaiton.

"Please don't belittle Bengal. Some may like me, some may not. That's democracy. But don't insult the state. I won't seek answers from you. The people will."

Warning her critics not to "underestimate" Trinamool, Banerjee said it was now more than a political party.

"It is a people's party. Some may be thinking of giving it a bad name by mudslinging. But please remember, if you touch Trinamool, people feel hurt, mothers are pained, youths get angry."

A section of the media has been regularly highlighting the alleged omissions and commissions of Banerjee's government and the ruling party.

Law and order issues, the industrial scenario in the light of attacks on company officials by miscreants purportedly backed by the Trinamool and closing down of a number of age-old units have come under media scrutiny recently.