Kolkata, Aug 28 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Tuesday continued her tirade against the media, accusing it of propagating “false news” to hold on to the market.
“The media is only indulging in spreading canards and false news. They are doing it purposefully. They are doing it to hold on to the market,” Banerjee said at a rally here.
The Trinamool Congress supremo was speaking on the occasion of the foundation day of her party’s student wing, the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad.
She had attacked the media Saturday accusing it of abetting suicides and rapes and even warned that police would lodge cases against those resorting to lies.
“Just because you have a channel you cannot abet suicides, you cannot abet rapes, you cannot pollute people’s minds so that they resort to criminal offence,” Banerjee had said, adding that media houses paid Rs.50,000-100,000 to people who say whatever they are asked to say.
Her comments come at a time when the media has been highlighting a spurt in incidents of rape, police torture and administrative excesses in the state.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau, West Bengal tops states in crimes against women.
Banerjee Tuesday rubbished claims by the opposition Left Front of making a comeback in the state.
“Some of them (opposition) are saying they will come back in the next election. But let me clearly say, people have been fed up with you and you won’t come back even in 30 years,” she said.
She went on to accuse the opposition of being involved in scams and corrupt practices.
“Important files are being removed from offices to hide what they have done in their 34 years of rule. They don’t want the public to know about their scams and corruption,” she said.
She urged the youth to “keep your cool and be patient and disciplined. It always pays to be patient and disciplined. I am saying this from experience,” added Banerjee.
