West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today hit out at the CPI(M)-led Left Front over yesterday's clashes with police and said resorting to violence will not help the Left, rather it will distance them further from the masses.
The Trinamool Congress supremo today said it would take a minute for the TMC to teach the Left a lesson, but it doesn't believe in resorting to violence.
"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," Banerjee said while addressing a rally of the party's students' wing Trinamool Congress Chatra Parishad (TMCP).
"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 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. 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," she said.
Several Left activists including the 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.
Police resorted to baton charge, used water canons and lobbed teargas shells to disperse the agitating LF activists.
