Peace in Junglemahal biggest achievement: Mamata Banerjee

Baghmundi (West Bengal), March 27: Taking credit for the restoration of peace in the Maoist-affected Junglemahal region, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday urged people not to vote for the "unethical Congress-Left Front alliance".

"People are now living in peace in Purulia. When our government came to power, the challenge was to restore peace in Juglemahal (forested stretches comprising large areas of Bankura, West Midnapore and Purulia districts known to be Maoist pockets)," Banerjee said at a poll rally in Baghmundi block in Purulia, around 320 km from Kolkata.

Banerjee said people were stricken by fear during the 34-year rule of the Communist Party of India-Marxist led Left Front.

"There was fear of police, fear of getting arrested after being labelled a Maoist, or fear of bullets."

Banerjee said that while buses had stopped plying, train services were halted at night, and schools and colleges got over by day time.

"But now peace prevails in Jungelmahal. This is our biggest achievement," the Trinamool Congress supremo said.

Describing the Congress-Left Front understanding as "selfish" and "unethical", she said those who love the CPI-M, should not vote for the Congress.

Nepal Mahato, the Congress legislator from Baghmundi, is seeking re-election with the support of the Left Front.

"I will ask those who love the CPI-M, and the All India Forward Bloc, don't vote for the Congress candidate. The CPI-M and the Congress have struck an immoral, selfish and unethical understanding," she added.

IANS