Law and order situation in WB matter of grave concern: PM

Katwa/WB, April 23: Launching a frontal attack on the ruling Left Front government, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday, April 23 said the law and order situation in West Bengal was a matter of "grave concern" and called for a change to give a fresh lease of life to the state.

"The law and order situation in the state is a matter of grave concern. If the Congress-Trinamool Congress combine comes to power after the elections, its first task would be to bring peace and all-round development," the Prime Minister told an election rally here.

Observing that the state has slipped into the morass in ''all fields,'' -- agriculture, industry, investment, health and education, he said, "The chariot of the administration has come to a halt in the state. It is now time for a change. Only a Congress-Trinamool Congress government can give a fresh lease of life to the state."

The Prime Minister said the Left Front government lacked vision and had no concrete policy on agriculture and industry. "The state government has lost the confidence of investors and the people." He said West Bengal, which once occupied an important place in industry, now lagged behind many states.

"I have come here with the message of Sonia Gandhi to elect the Congress-Trinamool Congress government in Bengal to give an opportunity to serve you. You have given the Left Front an opportunity for 34 years, but it failed to deliver," Singh said.

PTI