Mamata Banerjee joined the swearing-in ceremony of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar because she wanted to strengthen the federal fabric of Indian democracy against the “dangerous trend of authoritarianism shown by the Central Government.”
When asked to comment on Banerjee’s growing proximity with the Bihar grand alliance parties Bengal Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim said, “our Chief Minister wants to fight against intolerance and growing authoritarian attitude of the Central Government. She stands committed to go any distance to fight for federal fabric of Indian democracy.”
Banerjee on Friday joined the swearing-in function of Nitish Kumar who took oath for his fifth tenure as Bihar Chief Minister.
The Trinamool Congress was committed to fight for secularism, federalism and democracy, Hakim said adding Mamata Banerjee had fought all her life to uphold “these basic features of our Constitution and will continue to do so in future also.”
“Trinamool Congress will fight for strengthening the federal structure and secular fabric of our country” he said.
Banerjee had for long been complaining against what she said “central authoritarian attitude” that can be seen in disbursal of central funds for development. “They not only take away huge amount of money as interest from the taxes that are collected from Bengal but also have stopped central funds like BRGF,” she said in a recent public meeting condemning the Centre.
“The authoritarian attitude of the Centre has hit hard our 100-days work and sarva siksha schemes” she said asking “whose money are you taking away. It is our money. The States’ money must be returned to the States for the development of their people and the Centre has no right to take that money away.”
Notwithstanding her recent attacks on the Centre the political pundits are skeptic about how far she would be able to go against the Centre, particularly at a time when many of her party leaders were being probed by the CBI in the multi-crore Saradha chit fund scam.
“Federalism is alright but it will be difficult for her to go all out against NDA or for that matter join the Congress-led UPA for now because of the chit fund crisis that party is currently in” said SP Bose a political analyst.
“Given the fact that her politics is driven by her personal interests currently she has no option but to run with t he hare and hunt with the hound” said CPI(M) leader Samik lahiri.