Kolkata, Jan 23: Former West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee slammed the Mamata Banerjee government for spending money on self propaganda, while farmers in the state were committing suicide.
"During our regime, the farmers were poor but they did not commit suicide. But now, unable to face the situation, they are killing themselves," said Bhattacharjee, also a Communist Party of India-Marxist politburo member.
Addressing a rally in South 24 Parganas district, he attributed the peasant's poor condition to their inability to sell the produce and rising cost of farming and accused the state government of inability.
"Why is the government spending crores in advertising their own cause instead of using the money to for benefit of the common man and farmers? This government is not at all concerned about you," said Bhattacharjee.
He also lambasted Banerjee for claiming that her government has achieved "90 percent" of what it had promised and said her opposition to the central government initiated economic reforms were token protests.
"Her party (Trinamool Congress) is an offshoot of the Congress and it is as much guilty as the Congress. Why is she protesting price hikes now? When she was with the UPA she kept mum. Only because she is no more with Congress, is she protesting," added Bhattacharjee.
