Mamata rebuts allegations of understanding with BJP

Chief Minister Mamata Bannerjee today rubbished opposition allegations of understanding between her and BJP after she shared the dais with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a public event, saying there is a "limit" to everything and all kind of "canards".

The Trinamool Congress supremo also said that if she did did not participate in the IISCO programme in Burnpur which was attended by Modi during his visit to West Bengal then she will be accused of lacking courtesy. Banerjee said she attended the event as it related to the state's development.

"If I don't go, some people will say I lack courtesy. If I go, you will do Hindu-Muslim politics. There is a limit to everything and all kind of canards.

"And why will I not go, we have given land to IISCO plant and it is a programme relating to the development of the state. Why will I allow others to take away the credit?" she said while addressing a Trinamool Congress Chatra Prasihad (TMCP) programme.

Banerjee's comments came against the backdrop of allegations levelled by CPI(M) and Congress that her sharing of dais with Modi during the inauguration of a modernised IISCO steel plant was a result of a covert political understanding between BJP and TMC over CBI going slow on the Saradha scam and TMC helping BJP in passing of bills in Rajya Sabha.

Both Banerjee and Modi during the May 10 programme at Burnpur had spoken in favour of strengthening the federal structure of the country by keeping the country ahead of state politics.

The West Bengal Chief Minister also held a one-to-one meet with Modi and requested him to give a complete debt waiver to the debt-ridden state.

Banerjee was a bitter critic of Modi and his policies since last year's Lok Sabha poll. The relationship between the two plummeted last year when the Chief Minister refused to attend several meetings called by the Prime Minister.

Modi too during his election campaign in Bengal last year criticised the Trinamool Congress government over the multi-crore Saradha scandal and had promised to book the guilty.

Banerjee also gave a call for defeating the CPI(M), Congress and BJP in days to come and cautioned critics not to teach her about the moral values of politics.

"In the coming elections, we need to search for the CPI(M), Congress and BJP candidates and defeat them. We need to give them a befitting reply," she said.

"Please don't teach me moral values of politics. I am a product of student politics. Student politics has taught me to survive against all odds. I have come a hard way," she added.