Mamata takes a jibe at Anna's clean comment

Apparently taking a dig at anti-graft crusader Anna Hazare, Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday discounted Hazare's description of her as having a clean image.

"Some say that Mamata is good, while her party TMC is corrupt. I say that I also would have gone corrupt had TMC not been behind me. This is my creation. TMC is my love, my creation, my prayer. Keep TMC alive, it is your wealth," Banerjee said.

Mamata also suggested that there were corrupt people in each and every organization, and TMC was not an exception. She outlined that it was her party which identifies corrupt people and takes appropriate action as well.

"Everywhere, there is the presence of bad people, be it in the press, the administration, the political party or, anywhere else. I can vouch for my party, that we in the TMC, take immediate action each time anyone commits any mistake. I do not want anybody in my party to do any corrupt act. We need to discount those few rotten apples, we must work with good people, as its our challenge to build our nation. Unless, you build yourself, one cannot think of building a nation," Mamata added.

The brief bonhomie between Hazare and Mamata Banerjee appears to have vanished into thin air, after, Hazare had skipped the rally attended by Mamata at the Ramlila Grounds last week. Hazare, later justified his absence from the rally, saying that he was misled.

Hazare also declared that he endorses Mamata Banerjee as the best chief minister, but will no longer support TMC in its national ambitions, and therefore, asked the party not to use his name during its electioneering to attract votes.