Reject Congress and BJP in Lok Sabha polls: Mamata

Kolkata, Jan 30 :

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Thursday called for a “poribortan” (change) in Delhi, saying the Trinamool Congress was opposed to the Congress, the BJP as well as the Left.

Kicking off her party’s campaign for the Lok Sabha polls at a mammoth rally here at Brigade Parade Grounds, the Trinamool supremo said her fight was against both corruption and communalism.

“Our fight is against the Congress, the BJP and the Left Front. Our fight is against corruption, communalism. Today’s rally proves democracy is for the people and not for dynasties.

“We need ‘poribortan’ (change) in Delhi. We want to give this call from Bengal: What Bengal thinks today, India will think tomorrow. Bengal will show the way,” she added.

Banerjee, who has floated the idea of a federal front of regional parties, said such a forum was indispensable for providing good governance to the country.

“For the sake of the states and their development, there is a need for a positive government in Delhi,” she said.

“Our slogan is ‘Remove Corruption, Save India’.

“We don’t want a government which indulges in riots. We want a peace-loving and constructive government,” said Banerjee, referring to the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party.

“India is for all. We want good governance, we want rule of law and a united India. We want a pro-people government. For that we need a federal front comprising of powerful states,” she added.

The Trinamool leader said she would campaign during the Lok Sabha polls outside West Bengal too and urged party members to reach out to people in other states.

“We need to be stronger in Delhi. The more Lok Sabha seats we win, greater (will) be our importance. Now we will fight outside Bengal.

“We need to reach out and cooperate with people from other states. If need be, we will remain in the background and let them take the centre stage.

“We want black money from foreign shores to come back (to India)…

“Those who are criticizing Bengal (over crimes against women), I want to ask the Congress, CPI-M and BJP: why did you not utter a word when 15 women were raped inside relief camps in Muzaffarnagar?”

Attacking the erstwhile Left Front regime, Banerjee claimed that West Bengal had staged a comeback and made rapid all-round progress since she became chief minister in 2011.

(IANS)