Calling the Union Budget anti-poor, chief minister Mamata Banerjee said it did not throw any light on the country’s economy and there was absolute darkness.

Miss Banerjee was addressing a gathering in connection with the distribution of various benefits offered by the West Bengal government in Birbhum this afternoon.

She said: “The unemployment in the country is at alltime high and the Centre has miserably failed to control the prices of essential commodities. No step has been taken to address these problems. The Budget has benefited only a small section of people,” she said, adding, “If I had the authority I could have made a budget for the common people. The BJP leaders do not mix with common people and have no idea how they are spending their lives. Life has gone from bad to worse because of skyrocketing prices of essential commodities.”

Coming down heavily on the Centre, the chief minister said, “The Centre is talking about supporting the selfhelp groups but in reality they are acting in the reverse manner. In West Bengal, we have 11 lakh SHGs. In every state, there are SHGs and the Centre is making a total and projected it as if it is their achievement. I have never seen a government which speaks more lies than truth,” she maintained.

Referring to Visva-Bharati University, she said, “I will write to the Prime Minister to apprise him of the situation as he is the Chancellor of the university. The teachers are suspended without any reason and actions are taken against the students. Even the old asramites are not happy with the VB authorities. I will stand beside the students and not allow saffronisation in an institution which was set up by Gurudeb Rabindranath Tagore.”

Criticising the local BJP leaders, she said “They have no contact with people and criticise every step taken by the West Bengal government.” She said the people of Birbhum would get jobs due to Deocha Pachami, the second coal belt in the world and urged a section of the media not to give publicity to those who had been trying to stall the project. Miss Banerjee, who is also the chairperson of Trinamul Congress said she would look after Birbhum district on behalf of the party. “I will be assisted by Firhad Hakim, Ashis Banerjee, Shatabdi Roy and will visit the district every six months.