CPM the face, BJP and Cong its masks: Mamata

KOLKATA: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday launched a vitriolic attack on BJP's PM candidate Narendra Modi, questioning his ability to run the country when he is unable to control his tongue. The barb was aimed at Modi's no-holds-barred attack on Mamata over the Saradha scam during an election rally at Serampore on Sunday.

Modi had questioned how the price of Mamata's paintings had escalated from a few lakh rupees o Rs 1.8 crore and hinted at the involvement of dirty money from the ponzi scheme.

"People say all kinds of things and launch personal attack when they don't have any political issues to discuss. I hear of phones being tapped (Gujarat snooping row) and many other things that I cannot even speak of. When I speak, I take care to check the veracity. But he speaks without checking, after someone whispers into his ear. I feel hurt. When I open my mouth, there is so much criticism. But no one dares speak against him despite the killings (Gujarat riots in 2002)," Mamata said in an obvious reference to Modi during a string of rallies in Burrabazar, Rajabazar and Beliaghata to launch the campaign for North Kolkata party candidate Sudip Bandyopadhyay.

The selection of venues — trade hub Burrabazar where a section of the non-Bengali community has traditionally supported BJP; minority-dominated Rajabazar; and Beliaghata where the middle-class Bengali consistently voted for CPM till a few years ago — was aimed to address key vote banks in this crucial seat that is witnessing a four-cornered contest. Painting the opponents with the same brush, Mamata said CPM was the face and BJP and Congress its masks. "Each is hoping that the other will wean away votes from Trinamool Congress and help them emerge victorious. That will not happen," she said.

While Mamata criticized both the CPM and Congress, it was BJP's Modi who was singled out for attack. "He has become so audacious without becoming the prime minister. He comes during elections and talks of Bengalis and non-Bengalis in a bid to divide Bengal. Let me tell them, they are all Bengalis. If he becomes PM, the entire country will be on fire. He should be disqualified," she said.

Accusing Modi of spending large sums of money during the election campaign, Mamata said if money could make leaders, don Dawood Ibrahim, too, would have been eligible. "He does not know either history or geography and brands every Bengali a Bangladeshi. Does he know that Bangladesh and Pakistan were once part of India. I welcome my brothers and sisters from across the border that were once part of the same country," she said.

In a veiled warning to BJP-led NDA that is hoping to form the next government, Mamata said no party could do so on its own. "You can go to Jayalalitha, Mulayam Singh, Nitish Kumar or Naveen Patnaik. But remember the Royal Bengal is here," she remarked.