CPI(M), BJP have joined hands: Trinamool

Admitting that the Trinamool Congress had made mistakes by resorting to bandhs when it was in the opposition, the party today accused the Left of "joining hands" with BJP by calling a general strike on September 20.

"When we are agitating against the Centre's decision in our own way against issues like diesel price hike, putting a cap on subsidised LPG cylinders and allowing FDI in multi-brand retail, the CPI(M) and BJP have joined hands by calling a shut-down on the same day to derail the economy when West Bengal is trying to improve its economic conditions," state Panchayat minister Subrata Mukherjee told reporters here.

"The CPI(M), which had virtually destroyed the state's economic backbone in its 30-year rule, has called the bandh to further destroy the state economically," Mukherjee said.

"It seems the CPI(M) has suddenly woken up from slumber," he quipped.

On the CPI(M) and the BJP having called the general strike on the same day, the senior Trinamool leader alleged the two parties were holding talks with each other in Delhi.

On Trinamool resorting to bandhs when it was not in power in past, Mukherjee said, "We had resorted to bandhs sometimes when we were in the opposition but later realised it was useless."

"We think bandhs serve no purpose. Can CPI(M) give a guarantee that the Centre will roll back the decisions in the wake of the bandhs and will they compensate for the crores of rupees of economic loss the state would incur because of the bandh?" the TMC vice-president said.

Asserting that TMC would oppose the proposed Left-sponsored shutdown here on September 20, he said the government would decide how to deal with the bandh.

Left parties today announced a 12-hour all-India general strike on September 20 to protest against government's decision on diesel price, LPG cylinders and FDI in multi-brand retail.

CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat said here, "We have talked to other parties in this short time and decided on this protest by holding the 12-hour all-India strike."

Earlier, Left Front chairman in West Bengal Biman Bose said the strike would be enforced in the state from 6.00am to protest against the "anti-people decisions of the UPA government," and called upon the people to respond to it.

The BJP-led NDA yesterday also announced a nation-wide strike on the same date.