Agartala, Jun 18 (PTI) CPI(M) leader Mohammed Salim on Thursday alleged that Trinamool Congress leaders, who were involved in various scams over the last 15 years, have now become “assets” for the BJP in West Bengal.
Speaking to reporters in Agartala, where he came to attend a CPI(M) state committee meeting, Salim claimed that while senior TMC leaders facing allegations of corruption have found favour with the BJP, grassroots leaders who have not aligned with the ruling dispensation continue to face harassment.
“The lower-rung TMC leaders who have not yet surrendered to the ruling dispensation are facing harassment in Bengal today. On the other hand, top leaders who were involved in major scams or unethical activities over the last 15 years have become assets for the BJP,” he alleged.
Though Salim, the CPI(M)’s West Bengal secretary, did not name any individual, his remarks appeared to be directed at former TMC leaders who have recently broken ranks with the party and aligned themselves with other political formations.
The CPI(M) politburo member also took aim at the NCPI, which 20 TMC MPs joined, describing it as a “fraud venture” and alleging that organisations were being created by RSS to facilitate the political transition of leaders towards the BJP.
“We are familiar with terms such as shell companies, mergers, acquisitions and amalgamations in the corporate world. Now similar practices are being introduced into politics,” he said.
Criticising the BJP government over what he termed unfulfilled promises, Salim alleged that commitments made to government employees regarding implementation of the Seventh Central Pay Commission recommendations and payment of dearness allowance remain unmet.
“Instead of fulfilling those promises, the government is asking government employees to install smart meters,” he claimed.
Alleging that the BJP believes in a “limited edition of democracy”, Salim said opposition parties must unite both inside and outside Parliament to resist the “anti-people policies and attacks on democratic institutions”. PTI PS SOM
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