Return to the mainstream: Mamata to Maoists

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West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday asked the Maoists to return to the mainstream and assured the rebels that the state government would make all arrangements for their rehabilitation.

"Maoists should return to the mainstream of life and our government will make all arrangements for their rehabilitation, including jobs," Mamata said in her Independence Day address.

Dwelling on the overall success her government has achieved in the last one year and three months of coming to power, the CM said she is committed to restore the lost glory of Bengal for which they have already adapted several schemes to ensure economic prosperity and industrial development.

Claiming that law and order was well under control in her regime, Banerjee, who also looks after the Home department, warned the administration would not tolerate any bid to ferment riots and urged all to cooperate with the administration in this regard.

"Rioting will never be tolerated and the administration will take all steps to suppress any such move. Riot is a dangerous menace and nobody should indulge in it," she said in reference to the recent ethnic violence in the neighbouring Assam where several people were killed.

Condemning atrocities on women and reported incidents of rape and crime in the state, Mamata said, "Lets take a vow on this auspicious day of Independence Day that we will sternly deal with murder, rape, atrocities, particularly on women.

She also said that there should be no slander campaign against the state, which is committed to bring about overall development and peace.

Asking the opposition to cooperate with the government, the CM said, "It is a day on which we should take the vow to construct West Bengal. Love the people of the state and work hand in hand to rebuild a new Bengal".

In her speech, she touched upon several achievements of her government by stating that the police and administration has been revamped, 65 women police stations set up, 19 human rights courts set up, several night shelters for poor constructed in different parts of the state.

The government has already paid 10 per cent DA to state employees while the Puja bonus has already been declared and the ceiling has been raised.

The CM said her government has swung into action to usher in an industrially-developed Bengal, claiming that already one lakh crore investments have been made in the state's industrial sectors.

"Our next target is to augment the job opportunity for which the government has already raised the age limit in government jobs," she added.

To ensure education for all, steps have already been taken to set up modern schools and 331 ITIs while to safeguard the farmers' interests, 95 kisan bazars would be set up in the districts, she said.

However, the Centre's decision to raise prices of fertilisers did not find favour with the Trinamool Congress leader. Mamata said the tourism sector has been given special emphasis with the introduction of several schemes and packages for Sunderbans, Digha, Darjeeling, Tarkeswar, etc.

"We have unique tourism resources in our state which has not been properly harnessed," she said recalling that it was her second Independence Day as the chief minister after the removal of the 34-year-old Left Front regime.