TMC. opposition in Bengal indulge in war of words over sting operation

The Trinamool Congress and the opposition in West Bengal on Monday indulged in a war of words after a sting operation by a news website accused several ruling party leaders of accepting bribes.

While the ruling TMC rubbished the sting as a "smear campaign", the opposition Left lost no time in attacking Mamata Banerjee's party.

Leader of the opposition and Communist Party of India-Marxist state secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra said the sting operation had brought to the fore what the Left Front had been claiming for years.

"The sting carried out by Narada News proved what we have been saying for all these years. Now, there is nothing to hide. It's a matter of shame that this government continues," said Mishra while reading out the names of Trinamool leaders caught on camera allegedly accepting bribes," the CMI-M leader said.

"This is not only about the lakhs of rupees accepted as bribes by the Trinamool but is also about the crores looted in the chit fund scam. The one wearing rubber sandals is behind all this," Mishra said while referring to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

The Trinamool rubbished the allegations.

"This is a smear campaign; we are all busy with (assembly) elections now. So, whoever has tried to concoct this smear campaign, please go ahead.

"For those of you who know the Trinamool Congress well, we are completely transparent. Mamata di's credentials are impeccable, the people of Bengal know," Trinamool's Rajya Sabha member Derek O'Brien said.

"There are people who organise a breakfast before elections and raise Rs.100 crore even before breakfast. The Trinamool Congress' credentials are unquestionable. Where did the videos come from, who doctored these videos and who will put a defamation case? We are not bothered," the TMC leader said.