Thaindian News

Kolkata, Sep 15 (IANS) Ridiculing West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s promise of creating 10 lakh jobs in five years, her predecessor and communist leader Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee Thursday criticised her decision to absorb youth from the Maoist area of Junglemahal in police jobs.

“The government knows it cannot create jobs in Junglemahal. So it is saying everybody will be absorbed in the National Voluntary Force (NVF). What kind of government is this? Will everybody work in the police? A government cannot run like this,” Bhattacharjee said at a students’ rally here.

Banerjee had visited Maoist-hit Junglemahal (forest areas of three western districts West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia) and announced that 10,000 youths there would be given jobs in the NVF.

Banerjee in her election campaign had also promised to create 10 lakh jobs over five years.

According to Bhattacharjee, also a politburo member of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), the government has no intention of fulfilling its promise.

“The government has promised 10 lakh jobs for the youth. How and when they will get the jobs has not been said. Where is the money? They (state government) have not even placed the budget. Even a budget debate did not take place,” said Bhattacharjee.

Bhattacharjee also accused the Trinamool Congress of making an organised attack on Left supporters and unions and forcing its control over them.

“Our offices and workers are being attacked. Thousands have been injured. They are forcing out our union leaders. But people will not tolerate them anymore. They have now realised their mistake of voting such people to power.

“But we need to be patient. We will not bow down to their atrocities, we won’t leave the field. We have to change things and rebuild our organisation,” said Bhattacharjee.

Targeting the Congress-led central government, Bhattacharjee said it was fostering unemployment and poverty.

“The prime minister (Manmohan Singh) says industrial productivity needs to be increased. But what’s the use when there is so much of hunger and poverty in the country.

“Only people who have money can study medical or engineering courses but those who are poor cannot even get to access basic education facilities. Neither the Congress nor the Trinamool Congress will fight for employment of the youth,” added Bhattacharjee.