In another sign of the growing strain between the Trinamul and Congress, Mamata Banerjee on Monday targeted Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for not calling her during the Singur agitation, saying it was perhaps not to annoy her arch rival, CPI(M).
“During my fast on the Singur land issue, the Prime Minister did not call me. Perhaps he did not want to annoy the CPI(M),” Ms Banerjee remarked during an interview aired on three Bengali news channels.
Ms Banerjee said the Prime Minister had promised to give Central funds for West Bengal’s developmental activities when he visited the state. This was followed up by a visit by Mr Pranab Mukherjee.
“Since then, I have only seen newspaper headlines about such package,” she said suggesting that things have not moved forward.
In Lucknow, the Congress refused to be drawn into a war of words with its ally.
“I assure her that Prime Minister and Pranab Mukherjee if they have made any commitments even before the elections to the people of West Bengal, it will be implemented,” party spokesperson Rashid Alvi said.
Ms Banerjee, however, went on to say that the Trinamul Congress is a “responsible” constituent of the UPA coalition.
“We have a responsibility to maintain the alliance. But we also have a responsibility to the people who have elected us. We have told this to the Prime Minister too,” she said.
The Trinamul Congress carried out its activities based on policies, she said adding, “That is why we have protested against issues like entry of FDI in retail and hike in petrol prices which directly affected the people. But some Congress leaders of the state were working like the CPI(M).”
She also wondered where the government would get money to implement the Food Security Act if it comes into force.
“The Centre has not given us anything. Before the election, the Prime Minister had said the state will get help. I have held five meetings with Pranab Mukherjee. The media also wrote that big help was coming. Nothing happened. But I am against begging and we will hold our heads high in whatever we do,” she said.
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‘Law taking its course in amri case’
AGE CORRESPONDENT
Kolkata, Jan. 30
Rejecting the charge that her government had made arrests in the AMRI Hospital fire case in a biased manner, chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said that the law was taking its own course irrespective of the position and stature of the accused. Ninety-three people — 91 of them patients — were choked to death by the toxic smoke following a fire at the Dhakuria hospital on November 9. “My government is being criticised for (the handling of) the AMRI Hospital case, but I am not bothered. My stand is clear: law will take its own course,” Ms Banerjee said. She was speaking at a programme at the Netaji Indoor Stadium after distributing grants of `2 lakhs each to 800 small clubs.
Over 13 directors of the ill-fated private hospital, including leading industrialists and eminent doctors have been arrested in connection with the case. Charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder have been slapped against them. On Friday, two top city doctors, including 92-year old Mani Chhetri and Pranab Dasgupta were arrested and a section of society has raised questions over their arrests because of their stature.