KOLKATA: Attacking the Narendra Modi government for slashing funds for Central schemes in the state, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said her party Trinamool Congress (TMC) will not bow its head before BJP and will launch movement against it.
"Our fight is on for every inch. Earlier our fight was against CPI(M). Now we are fighting against the policies of the Centre. We are fighting against Centre's decision to slash funds for Central schemes. Our fight will continue and we will spread this movement from Bengal to Delhi," she said.
"TMC has the strength to fight. We are not scared of their red eyes and we are not afraid of your agencies. We are ready to die but we will not bow our heads before the ruling party of Delhi," Banerjee said addressing a huge rally here on the occasion of 'Martyr's Day' observed by her party to commemorate the death of 13 Youth Congress workers in police firing in 1993.
In an obvious reference to BJP, which in recent months has been facing flak over Lalitgate and Vyapam scam, Banerjee said those who were themselves involved in corruption should not lecture TMC on corruption.
"They who themselves indulge in corruption and communalism should not try to give us advice on corruption. TMC will never bow its heads before BJP," she said.
Banerjee said TMC will give a befitting reply to those trying to spread 'communal poison' in the state.
She also mocked 'Swachh Bharat' and 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' schemes of the Centre.
"People in Delhi are propagating 'Swachh Bharat' but it is Bengal which has done it. Nadia was the first ODF (open defecation free) district in the country," she said.
Ridiculing the Centre's 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' scheme, she said it had allocated only Rs 100 crore for it.
"Out of which Rs 50 crore are spent on advertisements only. What will they do with rest Rs 50 crore? The states will get just peanuts," Banerjee said.
She said the Kanyashree scheme of the state government for girls is a model before the world. "Lakhs of girls in Bengal have benefitted from the schemes for which Rs 1000 crore is being spent," Banerjee added.