Mamata threatens "legal action" against Centre over Army deployment

Finally leaving the secretariat office after 36 hours, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee came out guns blazing at the Centre as she threatened to take legal action against the Narendra Modi government if Army deployment is not removed from certain areas across the state.

"If Government doesn't withdraw army deployed in the state, we will fight legally," she said after emerging from the Secretariat.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief also branded the present regime as a 'daku government', further alleging that the Centre is looting the country.

"Modi government has become 'Daku government', just want to say that Modi ji is looting people's money," she added.

Meanwhile, responding to Mamata's ultimatum, Wing Commander S S Birdi of the Eastern Command CPRO said "the Army deployment (in West Bengal) won't be called off as it is a routine exercise and will continue till midnight today."

Mamata has accused the central government of "deploying the army" along a highway toll plaza at the second Hooghly Bridge, about 500 metres from the secretariat 'Nabanna' in neighbouring Howrah district.

Earlier today, TMC threw an open challenge to the Centre to come forth with the documents proving that the West Bengal Government gave the green signal for the deployment of Army troops in certain areas in the state.

Speaking to ANI here, TMC spokesperson Derek O'Brien asserted that no such document existed, adding that he would hang his head in shame if the government could prove him otherwise.

Nevertheless, the Parliament again witnessed ruckus today as the opposition continued to corner the Centre over the army's deployment in West Bengal.