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You let down the nation, Buddhadeb tells Chidambaram

Ananya Dutta

Chief Minister criticises the handling Telangana issue

“First a midnight decision, and now they are talking of consensus”
Chidambaram critical of State government because of Congress alliance with Trinamool

Kolkata: Reacting to Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram’s recent remarks expressing disappointment with the situation in West Bengal’s Lalgarh, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Sunday said he “was not disappointed” with what his government was doing to combat Maoist activity there. On the other hand, it was Mr. Chidambaram who “disappointed the entire nation” with his handling of the Telangana issue.

“The entire nation has been let down by the way he handled the Telangana issue,” Mr. Bhattacharjee said, speaking at a function held here to mark the 44th foundation day of Ganashakti, official organ of the CPI (M).

“First a midnight decision was taken and now they are talking of all-party meetings and consensus. Why was this not done earlier?”

The announcement on creation of a State of Telangana had repercussions in West Bengal as well, giving an impetus to the demands for statehood of Gorkhaland, Kamtapur and Greater Cooch Behar, he said.

“Why is he concerned only about our State? I would not like to belittle the efforts put in by other States, but the situation exists elsewhere,” Mr. Bhattacharjee said adding Mr. Chidambaram was critical of the State government merely because of the Congress’ alliance with the principal Opposition — the Trinamool Congress.

On the Union Minister’s remarks that he had received a brief reply to his long letter to Mr. Bhattacharjee, the Chief Minister said: “His letter was so long that the reply had to be short.”

Mr. Bhattacharjee also spoke about the need for industrialisation of the State to provide employment to youth.

West Bengal CPI(M) State committee secretary Biman Bose, touching on the inauguration of projects by Railways Minister and Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee, said it was a policy of creation of “instant jobs” which was not sustainable.

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