West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today took an apparent swipe at a section of the Congress in the state without naming the party over the February 28 general strike.
"I have seen that some people tend to raise a hue and cry over a petty matter. They don't want people to live in peace. This section of people had their heydays during CPI(M) regime," Banerjee told a gathering of unorganised labour at Salt Lake stadium.
Yesterday, WBPCC and state INTUC chief Pradip Bhattacharjee had said he would not support a general strike on February 28, but an industrial strike.
The Congress has said that it would oppose the strike, unlike ally Trinamool Congress which has stated it would be on the streets against the shutdown.
"There are a few persons who were agents of the CPI(M) for the last 35 years. We will not encourage them anymore," she said.
"Those who provoke, will be considered a plotter. Those who encourage conspirators are also conspirators. These people were quiet during the CPI(M) regime," she said.
"It is this section of the people who kept their eyes closed during the atrocities over land acquisition at Singur, Nandigram and Netai," Banerjee said.
"We will not allow anyone to play the band of CPI(M) anymore. We will be playing the band of Ma, Mati and Manush," Banerjee said.
Assuring that her government was committed to deliver, the chief minister said "people are living in peace in our state. They have regained their rights. This may be causing discomfort to a small section of the people."
In a reference to the incident at Dewandighi in Burdwan in which two CPI(M) local leaders were killed, she said "we won't allow politics of village recaptured."
Urging workers and employees to turn up for work on February 28, she said "I would like to urge you not to allow anyone to strike work or put up road blockades. Don't fall into the trap of provocations."
