West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today hit out at the CPI(M)-led Left Front over clashes with the police and warned it will take only a minute for the TMC to teach them a lesson, but her party did not believe in violence.
The CPI(M) retorted by describing Banerjee's utterances as "provocative" and said "it reflects the mindset of a dictator."
Addressing a rally of the Trinamool Chatra Parishad (TMCP) here, Banerjee slammed the Left saying, "We have not even touched you and you are throwing stones and using sticks. I challenge you. It will take just a minute for us (to teach you a lesson), but we don't believe in resorting to violence as you have done."
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"Those who have lost their credibility among the masses, those who have been rejected by the people, are now resorting to violence to regain power. They have become so intolerant that they can't wait. So, they have come out on the streets with stones and sticks to take it back. Violence will not help them, rather it will alienate them further from the masses," she said.
"If you want to compete with us, make a list of the developmental works that we have done and the works that you (LF) have done in the last 34 years. You have done nothing in the last 34 years for the state. Now you want to create blockades in the way of development, but we won't allow you to do it", Banerjee said alleging, "if you go to their offices you will get crores of rupees."
Several Left activists including CPI(M) Politburo member Biman Bose and 25 policemen were injured as Left Front supporters yesterday fought a pitched battle with the police in both Kolkata and Howrah when the cops tried to stop their march to the state secretariat.
Criticising Banerjee for her comments, CPI(M) state secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra said, "This provocative speech only reflects the authoritarian and dictatorship mindset of our Chief Minister."
"The anarchy unleashed by the TMC has breached the tolerance limits of the common man. The people will give a befitting reply to them," he said.
