Inducted into Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ministry, Bollywood singer-turned BJP MP Babul Supriyo Sunday said the new responsibility will help him in debunking West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress' claims of the state's "deprivation by the centre".
The Lok Sabha member from Asansol asserted his promotion into the council of ministers was an acknowledgement by Modi about Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) rise in West Bengal.
"Much like the (erstwhile) Left Front government, the Trinamool too has been whining about the centre depriving the state. But the fact is it's the ruling party which has deprived the state to serve its political interests," said Supriyo.
"I am committed towards working for the people and be a part of the centre's development agenda and will try to debunk the Trinamool's claims," said Supriyo who was sworn in as minister of state, though the portfolio is yet to be decided.
The singer-turned politician also refused to react to Bengal Panchayat Minister and Trinamool leader Subrata Mukherjee's comment that a minister of state was powerless.
"BJP leaders used to ridicule our ministers of state in the UPA-II government, describing them as half-pant ministers. Now what message they have given to the state by sending him as MoS?" Mukherjee said.
The state BJP leadership is gung ho about Supriyo becoming a minister asserting it will help the party's fight against the Trinamool.
"We now have a representation in the union ministry. This will play a major role for the development of the state as well as our fight against the misrule of the Trinamool," state BJP president Rahul Sinha said.
Echoing Sinha, Supriyo too said the BJP will come to power in 2016 to save Bengal from "Trinamool's misrule".
