People involved in illegal mining should leave Trinamool: Mamata

Amid allegations of a section of Trinamool Congress activists being involved in violence, construction syndicates and illegal mining, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said such people should leave her party.

"You must love the party more. You should be more restrained. Party must be by the people," Banerjee, the Trinamool Congress chief, told party workers at a rally here.

Banerjee said there was no place in the Trinamool for those whose only motive was to serve their own interests.

"We are not in Trinamool to serve our own interest, but to work for the people's sake," she said. "Those who are interested in only serving their own interest, you please do that. Don't come to Trinamool. Those who want to stand by the people, I urge them to join us."

In a strong message to the party's rank and file, Banerjee said she would not tolerate anyone being indisciplined in the party.

"If anyone feels he will create bad blood and hold his sway, I would like to tell such people that I won't tolerate indiscipline. Those who do party work properly, can remain in Trinamool.

"Those who want to be part of (construction) syndicates, you go out of the party, I have no problem. Be busy with syndicate, but don't be in Trinamool. Those who want to be involved in illegal mining activities, do that, but stay away from Trinamool. We are a party of poor people. We want to remain as a people's party," Banerjee said.

In the wake of reports of Trinamool student activists roughing up teachers, Banerjee said: "The teachers should be respected, just as you show respect to martyrs."

In the recent past, there have been allegations of Trinamool infighting for control of construction material supply syndicates and illegal mining.

In several areas, there have been media reports of violence following intra-party fights in Trinamool for control of political turf.

A few days ago, some Calcutta University professors were roughed up allegedly by members of the Trinamool students wing Trinamool Chhatra Parishad.