New Delhi, June 23: Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee today met Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani and alleged that there was "no democracy" in West Bengal where the "police is in under total control" of the ruling Left Front. "People in Jammu and Kashmir can vote freely but not in West Bengal. Atrocities are being committed on political workers belonging to the opposition in the state," the firebrand leader told reporters after a 30-minute meeting with Advani here.

Asked as to what she sought from the Centre, Banerjee declined to elaborate saying that, "While law and order is a state subject, democracy is not.”

The Trinamool chief said the Deputy Prime Minister gave her a "patient" hearing. "I am satisfied with my discussions,” she said.
Asked if she had discussed with Advani the issue of her party's inclusion in the Union Cabinet, Banerjee said, "I did not talk about it". She also parried a question on the issue of invitation to party colleague Sudip Bandopadhyay last month to join the Vajpayee government.

Advani, she said, would be visiting Kolkata on July 6 to lay the foundation stone of a gate to be constructed on the lines of India Gate here. The occasion would coincide with the birth anniversary of Jana Sangh founder Shyama Prasad Mukherjee.
Bureau Report