Mamata hits out at media, rivals targeting government

A combative West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today decried the alleged attempt by a section of the media and her rivals in showing her government in a bad light, saying no conspiracy or negative publicity would deflect her from the goal of the state's development.

Under attack over the gangrape and death of a 16-year-old girl at Madhyamgram in the city's suburb, Banerjee commented, "The more you do good work for the people, the more there would be conspiracy. The more there would be development work, the more there would be political narrowness to pull us back."

Without mentioning the Left, she said at a programme, "Those who have failed to deliver in 35 years (of the Left rule in Bengal) do this job well but cannot do other jobs."

Banerjee was speaking at a programme, where state Governor M K Narayanan was present, to release the administrative calender of the government.

Without Referring to the gangrape incident, she said, "Nobody should do bad acts. I condemn any bad act. The actions being taken by the administration had not been taken in the 35 years (of the Left Front rule).

She said that the media earlier used to verify and do research before filing reports, but it was not being done these days.

" I can also resort to counter propaganda," she said referring to the saying "if a dog bites a man would the man bite the dog?.