Third front is the only alternative: Bhattacharjee

Krishnagar, May 07 (UNI) West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today said the Congress-led UPA could not run the country and a Third Front was the only alternative to it.

'' We are trying to form a Third Front which can lead the country to prosperity, '' he said .

Addressing a panchayat election rally at Tehatta high school ground in Nadia district, the Chief Minister said the Congress was frightened of the young generation and can never come to power in the state.

Explaining why they had supported the Congress at the Centre, Mr Bhattacharjee said, '' We have supported them because the BJP is an offshoot of the RSS and we wanted to stop the communal forces from coming to power. '' Speaking about the state's development, he said, '' The state occupies the first position not only in agriculture in the country, but also in floriculture and jute.'' '' This has been possible only through the panchayati system, '' he added.

Mr Bhattacharjee said his government was trying to make the water arsenic free.

He informed that 7,42,000 women have been enrolled in the Self Help Groups.

On the country's economic condition, he said 40 families in the country were rich and the number was steadily increasing. But on the whole India's situation is worsening Whereas China is developing. We are begging for America's mercy while China is reigning supreme.

About the education system, the Chief Minister claimed that there are 612 colleges, 8 universities and 61 engineering colleges in West Bengal. '' We have to increase this number and see that cent per cent children get free primary education.

He said industries must be set up for the educated youth of this state.'' We wanted to set up an industry in Nandigram but we met with obstacles and had to shelve all our plans.'' Mr Bhattacharjee accused the All India Trinamool Congress of putting up hurdles in everything the government was doing. ''Be it in industry or developmental works,'' he said.

He alleged that AITC were actually trying to take the state backward instead of taking it forward.

'' People here understand politics and that is why we are in power for the last 30 years,'' he said.

UNI XC KK DB1942