Modi becoming PM is fantasy: Mamata Banerjee

“His (Modi) becoming a Prime Minister is a fantasy. So, I don’t need to answer this hypothetical question,” Banerjee told PTI in an interview here when asked whether she expected better financial treatment in the event of Modi becoming the Prime Minister.

“The Federal Front is the future. A Federal Front government will be formed after the elections,” Banerjee, the Trinamool Congress chief, said.

“Bengal does not need to go with a begging bowl. We are only asking for what is due to us. The demand for moratorium is not new. Even before 2011 elections the Prime Minister had promised to restructure Bengal’s burden created by three decades of Left rule,” Banerjee said.

“I and my finance minister had so many meetings, but they did not do anything. They did not keep their promise.”

On comparison of Gujarat with West Bengal, the West Bengal Chief Minister said “Comparing Gujarat with Bengal is like is like comparing a rich, privileged child and an undernourished, neglected one.

“Some people are talking about the Gujarat model. I must tell you there cannot be any comparison … Gujarat has been developing even before the current Chief Minister. In fact, the growth rate of Gujarat declined during his tenure.”

Banerjee said she had a lot of love for the people of Gujarat.

“Look at our population density and compare.They have 19 ports, we have only two. Even then Bengal model is far better,” she said.

Asked how different her approach was from Congress on protecting the rights of minorities, she listed 57 lakh scholarships to minority students and Urdu medium schools.

Alleging that both the Congress and BJP appeased religious groups during election time, Banerjee recalled how a well wisher had once told her that TMC stood for temple, mosque and church.

“I said no. No. Trinamool stands for development and dedication to the people. We work for all.”

She said, “Let me give you an example of how the Congress and BJP say something and do something else. They have talked about 33 per cent reservation for women in the Women’s Reservation Bill. Do you know what percentage of their candidates are women?

“The BJP has only 8 per cent women candidates and the Congress has 14 per cent. Trinamool Congress is proud to have 27 per cent women candidates. We do not make false promises in our manifesto. Our manifesto is for the people, of the people and by the people,” she said describing the manifesto as ‘sacred’.