BJP urges Anna not to support Mamata

BJP's state-unit president Rahul Sinha, in a letter, warned Hazare of the consequences of his alliance with the TMC

Describing West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as the "torch bearer of the tyrannical CPI-M", the Bharatiya Janata Party Friday urged social activist Anna Hazare not to support the Trinamool Congress.

Accusing the Banerjee-led government in the state of nursing chit funds and patronising criminals, BJP's state-unit president Rahul Sinha, in a letter, warned Hazare of the consequences of his alliance with the Trinamool Congress.

"You have every right to extend support to anybody... But the logic you have placed raises the eyebrows of peace loving people of Bengal. Do you know that she has not yet implemented Lokayukta in this state," read the letter addressed to Hazare.

"Regarding corruption, she is the torch bearer of the tyrannical (Communist Party of India-Marxist) CPI-M," Sinha said referring to the recent chit fund scam in the state in which lakhs of poor investors were duped.

"The CPI-M had given birth to hundreds of chit funds in this state, and the Trinamool now is carefully nursing them," he said.

Accusing Banerjee of openly defending criminals, Sinha said that under the present regime, law and order has steadily deteriorated and Bengal has become the "most molested state".

"For your information, most of the rapists are Trinamool workers and hence local police are hesitant to take necessary steps," the letter read.

Questioning the "integrity and honesty" of Banerjee, Sinha highlighted the recent alleged irregularities in appointment of primary school teachers, involvement of several officers and ministers in the Siliguri-Jalpaiguri Development Authority scam and other financial irregularities.

"Annaji, she (Banerjee) is giving money to illicit liquor consumers... to clubs (for patronizing hooligans), spending enormous money in funs and fiestas, which could have been used for development of a cash-strapped state like West Bengal," the letter said.

"Annaji, the entire people of West Bengal have tremendous regards for you! But we believe, the way Arvind Kejriwal defamed you, the same would be repeated if you stay with our chief minister and her party," it said.

Asserting that India will change if Banerjee was at its helm, Hazare said he would campaign for the Trinamool Congress in the Lok Sabha polls.