West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday defended the state police which has come under flak in recent times, and stressed that not a single untoward incident occurred during festivals and celebrations.
"We criticise them (police) all the time. One person works from morning to night during festivals to ensure safety. So many festivals have passed... has there been any incident? Has a single incident happened in Bengal? (Still) you say, there has been no good rule and that there is no need of state police," Banerjee said.
Highlighting the awards police have garnered, the Trinamool Congress supremo said the prompt action of police goes unnoticed.
"Where will you get such good police system?" she asked.
"In only 72 hours, we filed a chargesheet in a rape case. There are many such cases of prompt action. They don't see that police gets a medal after a lot of hard work," asserted Banerjee, who also holds the home portfolio.
Attacking the CPI-M, Banerjee reiterated her decision to support festivals and celebrations across the state in all sectors.
"Since they don't believe in religion, they get angry when they see any festivals or celebrations," she countered.
"There are people who are busy spreading slandering the developments in Bengal. Who stopped them from working when they were in power?" Banerjee posed.
Amid several reports of police getting beaten up at the hands of ruling Trinamool Congress cadres, the opposition parties have been complaining of a law and order breakdown in the state.
The opposition parties have also accused police from time to time of working in a partisan manner to protect the interests of the Trinamool and not doing anything to protect them from atrocities perpetrated by the ruling party.
