Mamata Banerjee dares the Centre, yet again

Panchla (WB), May 29: In a renewed attack on the UPA government at the Centre, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on May 28 said New Delhi was disturbing the state government on the question of internal security and once again dared it to dismiss her government.

"Everyday the Centre is disturbing a democratically elected government. It is disturbing the state government on the question of the internal security. If it has the courage let it dismiss the government in the state and we will see to it. We do not fear for that and we will fight it out democratically," Banerjee said at an election rally.

This was her second campaign in as many days in West Bengal's Howrah district where Lok Sabha bypoll is scheduled on June 2.

Referring to her party Trinamool Congress pulling out from the UPA II government last year, she said, "We have done this to protect the interests of the people when they (UPA government) went ahead with FDI in retail sector, effected a sharp rise in the the prices of diesel and imposed a cap on the LPG cylinders.

"People are most important to me, not the ministerial positions which are used at times for indulging in corruption. When we found they (UPA government) would not listen to us and had decided for FDI in retail we left the government in the interest of the people, who would suffer the most."

"I am a commoner and I am proud of that. I do not even use the chair which was so long meant for the chief minister. I do not spend a single paise from the state exchequer for having even a cup of tea... I spend from my own. I do not own a house or car and I do not receive salary meant for the chief minister," she said.

PTI