Thaindian News

Kolkata, Jan 25 (IANS) Urban Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh Wednesday said the credit for bringing a “revolutionary change” in West Bengal goes to Congress as much as to its ally Trinamool Congress.

“Change is nobody’s monopoly. West Bengal has witnessed revolutionary change under the new regime and we are as much a part of the government. We have much to contribute,” the Congress leader told reporters here.

The Congress-Trinamool Congress alliance — partners both in the central and state governments — has seen their relationship plunge to low levels over several issues.

Ties between the two have worsened to such an extent that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee recently asked the Congress to quit the state coalition if it so desired.

Ramesh, however, said his party will not do anything to hurt the alliance between the two parties.

“We are the political A team with a country-wide presence. We will not do anything to hurt our partners wherever we are in a coalition. But that does not mean it will bar us from doing legitimate constructive political activity,” said Ramesh.

The minister cautioned Banerjee’s regime against the politicisation of village administrative bodies which was hampering rural development.

“The extreme politicisation of the village panchayats has resulted in poor implementation of rural development schemes, especially the 100-day work programme.

“I have seen people who are not supporters of a particular party are denied the benefits of the schemes. We have already seen 34 years of tyranny and we do not need any more such political tyranny,” said Ramesh.

Ramesh said the government needed to embrace innovations in rural administration. “There are many instances where the farmers are not getting the minimum support price. The pension scheme too is floundering with many not getting their money regularly,” he said.

Ramesh was in the state on a three day visit to take stock of rural development programmes in the Maoist affected districts.