Mamata regime's 2 years a directionless sojourn: Congress

Kolkata: Bringing out an assessment report of West Bengal's Trinamool Congress government, two days before it completes two years in office, the Congress on Saturday alleged that the regime was moving in a negative direction and was clueless about the course it wanted the state's economy to take.

"We do not expect that within two years, they will be able to change the face of the state but the direction in which the government is moving is the most important question... this government is moving in a negative direction," state Congress president Pradip Bhattacharya told media persons here after releasing the report.

He said there was uncertainty in the political as well as the economic thinking of the state government.

"The state government is totally clueless regarding the direction it wants the state's economy to take. So many months have gone... have you seen any industry coming here? Rather those who are doing business in the state, are planning to move out."

He also criticised Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for publicising the central schemes as her initiatives.

"Why is she misleading the people by saying the central schemes are her schemes? What would have happened had she confessed that those were central government schemes?" he asked.

Bhattacharya said he was "disappointed as all the neighbouring states were progressing, but Bengal was not, but rather it was slipping down".

"The central funds are also not being utilised properly. I have been informed that Rs.100 crore given for development of Junglemahal has gone back unutilised," he said.

He also accused the government of not being able to bring and implement the central schemes in an organised manner.

Bhattacharya said the state government lacked the vision to rope in entrepreneurs. The funds were only being used for "song and dance jamboree".

He said the Congress wanted to co-operate with the government despite political differences with the Trinamool. "But Mamata Banerjee was not willing to accept our cooperation and rather she is criticising the central government day in and day out. Will that feed the poor in the state?"