Oppn slams UPA on FM support of Mamata's remarks on Azad

CPI-M supported by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and other opposition parties today slammed the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) in Rajya Sabha over Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s remark that he found “nothing wrong” in Mamata Banerjee's statement on the killing of Maoist leader Azad.

“Finance Minister's remark was tantamount to the government running with the hare and hunting with the hound,” Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M) said.

Mukherjee had said in Kolkata yesterday that there was no reason to suspect that Banerjee had links with Naxals if she thought that the Naxal problem could be negotiated through dialogue.

Yechury also wanted to know when the government would give its response to the issue of Banerjee’s Lalgarh rally on August 9 during which she had raised questions on the killing of Azad.

Responding to it, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Prithiviraj Chavan said the government will respond to the issue tomorrow.

“I had assured the House that I will get the facts about the rally and come back to the House,” he said adding he still holds that promise.