Constructive criticism of TMC will continue: Congress leader Singhvi

Kolkata, Feb.5 (ANI): Congress party spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi on Sunday bluntly sent out a message to the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress Government in West Bengal that his party is duty bound to give constructive criticism over the functioning of the state administration.

Asserting that "if there is lack of governance (in the state), voices will be raised", Singhvi further said: "Our objective is to improve administrative decision making and ensure better governance in West Bengal which got itself freed from the tyranny of more than three decades."

When asked to comment about infant deaths and farmer suicides in the state, he said: "It is obvious that there are deaths of infants and farmers commit suicides on account of poor off take (of what they produce) or physical obstruction in procurement. I think all of us have to join together in raising our voices for improvement in these services."

He said that the demand for good governance should not be viewed as "negative politics" nor does it suggest an attack on the state government.

"That is not the intention, that is not the objective," Singhvi said.

On Trinamool Congress alleging that Congress had teamed up with Communist Party of India-Marxist in criticizing its government on farmer deaths, Singhvi said, "I strongly dismiss this. We have jointly come to power in the state and we are with the government."

Denying that the Centre was not extending financial assistance to West Bengal, Singhvi said the state government has so far been given Rs.7,800 crores.

"Whatever more needed to be done can be achieved by further discussion between the two parties," he added.

On reports that some state Congress leaders' and supporters were being attacked by Trinamool activists, Singhvi said: "This is a serious matter. We are in coalition with Trinamool both at the Centre and the state and all our partners are valuable. We are a part of the government. All acts of violence should be condemned."

Singhvi said that those who had been attacked had been instructed to file first information reports and thereafter appropriate legal action would be taken.

Singhvi was in Kolkata to launch the "Congress Barta", a Bengali weekly tabloid of the party.

He said that the paper besides recording party events in the state, would welcome diverse and dissenting views also. (ANI)