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Former West Bengal chief minister Buddadeb Bhattacharjee Friday questioned the Trinamool Congress' aversion to a CBI probe into the Saradha chit fund scandal.
He wondered about the trail of money in the multi-crore rupee scam in the state.
"A laughable argument is being put forth that we are responsible because the chit fund came into existence during the Left Front regime. If it is so, then why is the Trinamool averse to a CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) probe?" he asked.
"Let there be a CBI probe so that whoever is guilty is punished. We are not afraid, the CBI should come in so people may know where the huge money has gone," Bhattacharjee told media persons here.
The biggest financial scandal to rock the state is back in the limelight following the arrests of scam kingpin Sudipta Sen's wife and son with the opposition sharpening its attack on the ruling party, while the Trinamool too has hit back with vengeance.
Categorically stating his party will never align with the Trinamool, Bhattacharjee castigated the Mamata Banerjee regime over a number of issues.
"The biggest failure of this government is that there is no industrialisation. Under the Left, industry in the state had learnt to stand on its feet, but now industry has collapsed. Youngsters are staring at a bleak future because there is no employment," he said as he also expressed concern over rising crime against women and the falling law and order situation.
The veteran Marxist leader claimed minorities in the state will not vote for the Trinamool because it has not ruled out joining its former ally, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
"She (Mamata Banerjee) has been addressing so many rallies... she has not yet said her party will not join the BJP. Minorities in the state are aware of this fact," said Bhattacharjee.
He also ridiculed Trinamool's assertions that the CPI-M had a tacit understanding with the BJP.
Talking about the Left Front, Bhattacharjee admitted it was a mistake not to harp on the positives of the former regime during the poll campaigns.
"Yes, I admit, we should talk about the positive things that we did during our regime," said Bhattacharjee, conceding that the poll campaigns were mostly centred on criticising the opponents.
