Asansol, West Bengal:
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged on Friday that some local news channels had ganged up with the opposition to make a hue and cry over rape and violence in the state and reiterated that there was a conspiracy to kill her.
Naming a local media house running a TV news channel and two others critical of her government, Ms Banerjee told a panchayat election rally in Asansol, "They are systematically using the Congress, CPI(M) and BJP for propaganda against the government doing good work, for terror, murder and rape."
When her naming the channels caused commotion at the rally, the chief minister, warned, "Don't lay a finger on them. We will tackle them legally."
Her comments came on a day when a lot of people hit the streets to protest against the spurt in crimes against women in the state.
Dwelling again on the allegation that a conspiracy was afoot to eliminate her, she said "There is a conspiracy to kill me and party general secretary Mukul Roy. CPI(M), Congress, BJP and Maoists have joined hands."
"CPI(M) should remember that if one Mamata Banerjee is killed lakhs of Mamata Banerjees would be born. I am not cowed by threats. I am not afraid of death, but if I die I will die like a hero. My life is a struggle for justice for 35 years," she said.
Admitting that 'one or two' incidents had taken place which were 'definitely bad', the chief minister said "It has to be seen whether the government has taken steps or not. Perpetrators have been arrested within 24 hours. What else do you want? The TMC did not commit rape."
Asserting that the perpetrators of the rape and murder at Barasat would be punished swiftly, Ms Banerjee said that the government would file a charge-sheet seeking the death penalty in a fast track court.
Targeting talk shows in the three news channels, she said "The participants get money and give advice posing as social reformers. Those who are giving sermons are being touted as social reformers. Anti-socials have been made social reformers. Everything is possible if you have money.
Accusing a section of the media of launching propaganda over rapes in the state, she said, "A false campaign is projecting that West Bengal tops in the number of rapes.
"I have only 40,000 policemen in our state at our disposal. We cannot post police at every house," she said.