Congress, BJP running government in syndicate: Mamata

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee today accused Congress and BJP of running a government 'in syndicate' and gave a call for 'parivartan' (change) in the Congress-ruled Assam.
"Congress has a syndicate with BJP, they are just running the government in friendship. In the next election, we need a 'parivartan' (change). Assam will also have 'parivartan'," the West Bengal Chief Minister told a public rally here.
Attacking Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, a Rajya Sabha member from Assam, Banerjee questioned what he had done for the state.
"You (Assam) have given the PM. What more can you do? How many times has he come to Assam? What work has he done? What has he spoken to the people of Assam? He (Manmohan Singh) comes only during elections to get votes," Banerjee, the West Bengal Chief Minister told a public rally here.

Not sparing BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi either, Banerjee said "BJP is also the same...We had supported the NDA government because of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, for whom we have respect. But we don't have any respect for the one who is communal, we cannot support him. We have respect for all people of all regions."
She said that the people of Assam repeatedly supported Congress governments, both at the Centre and state, but did not get anything in return.

"...But in return what have you got? The Congress has a vindictive attitude. They are running with political vendetta," she alleged.

Banerjee said during Congress rule, prices of all essential commodities were rising.
"Prices of fertilisers were hiked. They have hiked prices of all items like LPG, petrol, diesel, kerosene. They have privatised the insurance sector. Whatever money they are earning, they are spending on election," she said.
She also ridiculed the Congress' promise that the number of job days under MGNREGA would be increased to 150 days from 100 at present.
"They are not paying the states for 100 days work, how will they increase it to 150 days? West Bengal needs Rs 1,000 crore for 100 days' work. But the Centre has not released money to us for the last three months," she said, alleging that the Congress was destroying the country by "selling and dividing" it.