New Delhi: Congress Thursday sought to
downplay Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee`s remarks on alliance, saying she was only raising the issue of misuse of central forces in West Bengal, which she has the right to
do.
"What she might have said is about the misuse of the
central forces there, with which we are also equally
concerned....She has never said that she would quit on that
issue," party in-charge for West Bengal affairs K Keshava Rao
said.
The senior Congress leader stressed "she has never
said she would quit, she has never given any threat...there is
no question of rift between us (Congress and Trinamool
Congress).
Rao`s remarks came on Banerjee`s comments last night
on alliance with Congress that she had not said that her party
would contest the West Bengal Assembly elections on its own,
but it was for the ally to decide.
She had also said that she was ready to quit if she
cannot prove that the CPI(M) was misusing central security
forces brought for anti-Maoist operations in West Bengal.
"The CPI(M) is misusing central forces. I would have
nothing to say if the central forces were used against
Maoists. If I cannot prove that the central forces are being
misused by the CPI(M), I am ready to quit. Will the CPI(M)
government also do so" the Trinamool Congress chief had said.
Banerjee said that she had met Congress president
Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and apprised them
about the CPI(M)`s "terror tactics".
Agreeing with Mamata`s contention on the misuse of
central forces in the CPI-M ruled West Bengal, the Congress
leader said, "They are being misused. So everybody has the
right to talk about the misuse of central forces. She might
have spoken more emphatically about her concern."
PTI
