Mamata defends spending on festivals

Taking a dig at the Opposition CPI(M) for criticising her for allegedly wasting government funds on festivals, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today defended it saying it was meant for the people.
"Can people survive without earth? Can there be life without water? Who are saying this? Should I not showcase the achievements of farmers? Should I not glorify the small scale sector? Is it wrong to hold festivals on this?" Banerjee said, inaugurating the 'Mati Utsav' (soil festival) here in Burdwan district.
"Should we not speak about education and culture? Questions are being raised why festivals are held. Yes it will be held a 100 and a lakh times," she said.

She wondered why film, jatra (folk theatre) and soil festivals and language festivals were not thought of when the Left were in power in the state.
"There was 'kaka' (uncle) mela, 'dada' (brother), 'didi' (sister) mela during the previous regime," she said.
She said her government organised the 'soil festival' to showcase the achievements made in agriculture and the state government's attempts to dig ponds under the Jal Dharo, Jal Bharo scheme.