Rahul calls for LF defeat in WB to bring change

A day after prime minister Manmohan Singh's stinging criticism of the Left parties, AICC leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday followed it up saying the communist government in West Bengal had 'failed' to work for the poor and called for bringing about change in the state.

"They (communists) talk big and oppose us in Delhi. But the communist government here has failed to utilise the money sent from Delhi for welfare schemes for the poor and backward," Gandhi told an election meeting here.

Attacking the Left in its backyard, Gandhi on the second leg of campaign in the state said, "You have to think afresh and defeat the Left Front government to bring a change here."

Rahul said that the Centre had sent Rs 250 crore to the state to tackle arsenic pollution but the money was not spent.

He said that Rs 18 crore was also sent from Delhi for housing for the poor, but it remained unused.

Earlier, speaking at another meeting at Domkal, Gandhi said he thought that LF government was one for the poor. "But I was surprised to see that against eight lakh job cards only 60 were given jobs (under the NREGS)."