MAMATA BANERJEE

I am not God. Nor am I Phantom. I am ready to accept any criticism. I have been in politics for decades. Each and every day, in several media, there is criticism of me.

I don't think the elite class is only speaking the good English.

We are from the very middle class family. We have not come from the English medium school. We came from our regional languages school.

Mamata Banerjee is just a casual worker, just like a commoner.

I have seen in my life, I have struggled so much. I did not get support from anyone.

Change is a continuous process. You cannot assess it with the static yardstick of a limited time frame. When a seed is sown into the ground, you cannot immediately see the plant. You have to be patient. With time, it grows into a large tree. And then the flowers bloom, and only then can the fruits be plucked.

Few states, they have the international borders, state borders; in India, there is so much diversity in system. Unity in diversity is our system, so therefore, you cannot take for granted, whatever you do.

Our party, I can tell you, is very transparent; we believe in our credentials. Our credentials are our only credibility; we are not going to compromise on that; we are the commoners.

We are not Marxist or capitalist; we are for the poor people.

I never supported violence. Before the formation of TMC, I was a member of the Congress Party. Gandhi's Congress. Non-violence is a philosophy that runs deep.

Our policy is very clear: whatever policy will suit the people, whatever policy will suit the circumstances, whatever policy will suit my state.

Unlike the Marxists, I have no mind block against the U.S.

I have flatly refused to be conned by Jyoti Basu and his corrupt government.

Student life taught me a lesson - never bow down your head. Be straightforward and bold in whatever you do.

In Bengal, at the state level, the Congress and Left are working with the BJP. At the national level, for the greater good, we feel we must work together in Parliament.

I was not with BJP's communalism agenda.

Sometimes, when democracy has to fight with autocracy, what can be done? We have to fight; somebody has to.

Struggle has been a part and parcel of my life.

I don't have any personal agenda or vendetta against any individual, even Narendra Modi.

Ours is a vast country, many languages, many castes, creeds, religions.

I have no problem working with anybody as long as they are efficient and their intentions, their philosophy, their ideology are clear.

I am not Left or Right. I believe in nationalism, patriotism, the federal structure, democracy, and the poor.

We are open to everyone who wants to contribute in our mission to make West Bengal a glorious state.

It is my birthright, it is my political right, it is my democratic right, it is my constitutional right... that I must open my mouth... my voice... I can raise my voice.

Jyoti Basu is the biggest fraud, cheat, and con man in West Bengal.