WB polls a freedom movement from 35-yrs of oppression: Modi

Ahmedabad, April 17: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today (April 17) termed the West Bengal assembly polls as a "freedom movement" of people entangled into 35-year-long vicious cycle of "oppression".

"I was surprised after what I saw in West Bengal. It was a whole new form of election there," Modi said while addressing a seminar organised by the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industries (GCCI) here.

"It was not just some election, but a movement for freedom by the people who want to be free from the shackles of 35-year-long vicious cycle of oppression," said Modi, who yesterday participated in election campaign in Jalpaiguri district of WB.

The chief minister said that in West Bengal people purchase agricultural produce like potatoes from farmers for daily use only.

"I explained to farmers there about what happens in case of their counterparts in Gujarat, who also cultivate potatoes. A farmer in Banaskantha (Gujarat) cultivates potatoes which are sold in markets of Canada where it gets transformed into chips and is sold across the world. This is where government figures in," Modi said.

He told the GCCI that in Jalpaiguri potatoes are sold only if people come and buy them otherwise they get rot.

During his election campaign in WB, Modi accused the Left government of failure in setting up industry in the state in the last 34 year-rule. He had also expressed concerns over plight of tea garden workers of North Bengal.

PTI