Kolkata/IBNS: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday called the state government employees, who are protesting with demands for a hike in Dearness Allowance (DA) for over 60 days, "thieves".

The Chief Minister alleged the DA protesters, who are camped at Shahid Minar, received jobs unethically and illegally during the Left Front regime.

Mamata said this during her address from the dharna stage at Red Road in downtown Kolkata.

She said, "The thieves who received jobs through 'chirkut' system are there at the DA agitation site. Do I need to take lessons from these dacoits and BJP goons?"

Upon request by a supporter to stop their pensions, Mamata said she would rethink it.

Lashing out at the CPI-M whose 34-year-old government was uninstalled by Mamata in 2011, the Trinamool Congress supremo said, "Whatever irregularities are surfacing in primary, secondary, and high school recruitment, CPI-M is working through the Coordination Committee on the same.

"None of their files will be found because they have either been stolen, burnt or hidden. The wife of one of the leaders involved in Saradha case also receives a pension from our state government for a job she secured through 'chirkut'"

Mamata's Trinamool is facing massive corruption allegations on various fronts with some of its top leaders being arrested.

Former West Bengal Education Minister and now suspended Trinamool leader Partha Chatterjee was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate after a huge sum of money was recovered from his close aide Arpita Mukherjee's flat in connection with the teacher recruitment scam.

In a counter-attack on the Opposition, the Trinamool has accused CPI-M leader Sujan Chakraborty's wife Mili Chakraborty of securing a government job on recommendation by the Leftist party.

Trashing the allegation, Sujan said, "The letter which the Trinamool is showing is the appointment letter. This proves the recruitment system was fair during the Left regime."

Mamata is continuing with her 31-hour long dharna from Wednesday noon protesting against the Centre's alleged delay in disbursement of funds, hike in LPG cylinder prices and use of probe agencies for political vendetta.