Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said an alternative must be found to taxing the poor and raising the prices of essential commodities whenever economic problems cropped up.
Without elaborating on her 'alternative', Banerjee said "common man should not be burdened. We have been seeing for a long time that national wealth and resources remain unused and misused and if these are used according to a proper plan, an alternative route must be somewhere in the horizon".
Writing in the inaugural issue of the party's English montly "All India Trinamool Congress Leads", formally launched in Kolkata on Monday, she said "Whenever coffers demand money, the easiest way is to exert pressure - be it by way of raising the prices of essential commodities or by burdening the poor with taxes".
Emphasising that her party was for the poor and the weaker sections of society, she said her party's top priority was advancement of the poor and restoration of the socio-economic balance.
She said whenever economy undergoes a reforms process, the poorer sections are pushed to the margin. Her comments came in the midst of her party's strong opposition to FDI in retail, banking, insurance and pension sectors and hike in fuel prices.
Touching upon what she said a "strange power equation" existing between the Centre and the states, she said that under this atmosphere decision-making became difficult.
This was not allowing Trinamool Congress to have freedom to bring about major changes quickly. Banerjee, who had recently faced a volley of criticism from sections of the media over her government's handling of certain issues, said "a section of the media has been at work to malign the image of our party".
"Thus, we feel that it is appropriate to reach out to the masses with the real truth," she said referring to the launch of the party organ.
Banerjee was critical of "some detractors" trying to divert attention of the people from the work done by her government "within a very short time".
"But we srongly believe the people are and will be with us in future to take our mission of development farther", she said.
Referring to his party's "ever-increasing popularity", Banerjee said "we have been receiving many requests from other states to expand the party's reach. What is more heartening that Trinamool Congress as a potent political outfit has already been successful in attaining a positive image while anchoring its growth potential nationally".
Railway Minister and party general secretary Mukul Roy released the organ of which party MP Derek O' Brien is the editor.
Comments
0 comment