Mamata threatens BJP with tit for tat approach

In the wake of a BJP team visiting West Bengal over political violence, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Sunday accused the party ruling at the centre of provocation and threatened to adopt a "tit for tat" approach.

Concerned over the attacks on its party activists and supporters allegedly by the ruling Trinamool Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party Sunday sent a second central team, which visited Ilambazar in Birbhum district where one of its workers was killed.

The BJP delegation led by party vice president Balbir Punj derided the Banerjee government over the rise of political violence, claiming over 150 people have been killed since the Trinamool came to power in the state in 2011.

"We have been playing a constructive role with the central government but it seems, the party at the centre does not want to cooperate. Joining hands with the CPI-M, the BJP has been giving provocation and trying to disturb law and order and create communal tensions in Bengal," said Banerjee.

"If the centre doesn't want to cooperate, then we too can do the same. We will take a tit for tat approach and send a Trinamool team to the BJP ruled states whenever there is any issue there," said Banerjee.

"BJP shouldn't forget that it too has government in some states and we can send our MPs there," she added.

Banerjee also issued a stern warning to the centre for interfering in the state's matter.

"The Centre should do their work. They should not interfere in the work of Bengal. Our courtesy should not be misinterpreted as weakness," said Banerjee.

Condemning the attack on its activists, which led to the killing of four people in Raidighi in North 24-Parganas district Saturday, Banerjee accused the BJP and CPI-M for the incident.

"It is amply clear, just before a day their team arrived here, our men are killed. There is a conspiracy by the BJP and the CPI-M to discredit our government by creating communal tension and incite violence. We will not tolerate this and will take strong action," said Banerjee.