'Why Mamata is silent on corruption issue?' Gadkari

Kolkata, Jun 16: BJP president Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday, June 15 questioned West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's silence on the corruption issue and alleged that as a UPA cabinet minister she "allowed" corruption.

"When she was the cabinet minister in the UPA government she allowed corruption. She didn''t say anything against the Centre," Gadkari said.

"Knowing everything why did she keep quiet?" he said.

The BJP president also claimed that the BJP was the only option for the people in West Bengal.

"In 34 years of Left rule, the state has touched the bottom-line with 2 lakh crore debt, poor employment, water and electricity," Gadkari, addressing a BJP executive committee meeting, said here today.

Describing West Bengal as a rich state with a poor population, Gadkari said "When Gujarat has an agricultural development of 19 per cent in a year, West Bengal has a two per cent figure. The Left Front has destroyed Bengal."

"In the last 34 years, the Left has destroyed the economic system and the people of this state want change and they have voted for that...," he said.

"People have tried the Left and they will very soon understand Trinamool Congress and then the only option will be BJP which has the will and the determination to fight for the common people," Gadkari said, adding that politics in 21st century is about progress and development.

Admitting that BJP did not fare well in the Assembly elections, Gadkari said, "This is long battle and we will have to reach out to the people and make them realise that we are the only party which will stand for the right cause."

PTI