Kolkata, Nov 2 (IANS): Expressing her grief over the brutal killings in Assam, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday said the country was passing through an unprecedented bad phase.

"It is very painful to think how innocent people were killed in Assam's Tinsukia yesterday. The Biharis are being chased away from Gujarat and Bengalis are being made to run away from Assam as an inauspicious environment is prevailing across the country," Banerjee said during inauguration of a Kali Puja marquee in North Kolkata.

"If I ask any businessman whether he is running his firm smoothly, most of them tell me how the Central agencies are trying to scare them," she said.

Taking a jibe at the demonetisation exercise carried out by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2016, she said, "During Dhanteras and Diwali, people worship Goddess Lakshmi and they save money in 'Lakshmi Bhandar'(savings). Now they cannot keep it as Income Tax people can take it away."

The Chief Minister appealed to people to celebrate Kali Puja and Diwali peacefully.