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Congress hits back at Mamata over Telangana rant
By: Tupaki Desk | 31 July 2013 8:21 PM GMTThe Congress Wednesday hit back at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee after she slammed had the party over the Telangana issue.
Mamata had accused Congress of stoking discord in the Darjeeling hills where the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) has intensified its movement for the creation of Gorkhaland, calling an indefinite shutdown from Saturday.
"We don't want to hear lessons on responsibility from an irresponsible chief minister. Why is she blaming the central government? She must not forget there is peace in Darjeeling because of the central government's efforts. The tripartite agreement was a result of the central government's untiring efforts," union Minister of State for Urban Development and Congress leader Deepa Dasmunsi said.
Condemning the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) for endorsing statehood to Telangana, Banerjee Wednesday had dubbed the decision as "divisive politics" and questioned its timing as the "next general elections were knocking on the doors".
Dasmunsi also rubbished Banerjee's claims that the Telangana decision was taken with an eye on the next general elections.
"The Telangana decision was taken much earlier but was held up due to some issues, particularly regarding the new state capital. So, it is completely baseless to allege that the decision is motivated by the next Lok Sabha polls," added Dasmunsi.
State Congress president Pradip Bhattacharya also criticised Banerjee.
"Telangana is an old issue and has nothing to do with the upcoming polls. Her attack is not surprising as she has a knack of blaming the Congress and the central government for anything and everything. We never want a division of Bengal and instead of blaming us, she must work to resolve the issue," Bhattacharya said.
Mamata had accused Congress of stoking discord in the Darjeeling hills where the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) has intensified its movement for the creation of Gorkhaland, calling an indefinite shutdown from Saturday.
"We don't want to hear lessons on responsibility from an irresponsible chief minister. Why is she blaming the central government? She must not forget there is peace in Darjeeling because of the central government's efforts. The tripartite agreement was a result of the central government's untiring efforts," union Minister of State for Urban Development and Congress leader Deepa Dasmunsi said.
Condemning the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) for endorsing statehood to Telangana, Banerjee Wednesday had dubbed the decision as "divisive politics" and questioned its timing as the "next general elections were knocking on the doors".
Dasmunsi also rubbished Banerjee's claims that the Telangana decision was taken with an eye on the next general elections.
"The Telangana decision was taken much earlier but was held up due to some issues, particularly regarding the new state capital. So, it is completely baseless to allege that the decision is motivated by the next Lok Sabha polls," added Dasmunsi.
State Congress president Pradip Bhattacharya also criticised Banerjee.
"Telangana is an old issue and has nothing to do with the upcoming polls. Her attack is not surprising as she has a knack of blaming the Congress and the central government for anything and everything. We never want a division of Bengal and instead of blaming us, she must work to resolve the issue," Bhattacharya said.
