Mamata says unlike PM she does not ask for votes in soldiers

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Friday expressed solidarity with army veterans conveying outrage over alleged use of armed forces for political purposes and asked the BJP leadership not to build their identity riding on the sacrifices and achievements of the soldiers.

The Trinamool Congress president said unlike Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she does not ask for votes in the name of the soldiers.

Banerjee, an important leader of the anti-BJP bloc, claimed that it will be difficult for the BJP to cross 100 seats in the ongoing Lok Sabha election.

Addressing a poll rally here for the Darjeeling Lok Sabha constituency, Banerjee claimed that "regional parties have become important, we will together form the government."
She said that entrepreneurs express apprehension of bandhs and strikes which disturbed normal life at different times in the hills, "but I assure them that there is peace in the hills and the industries, if they come up, will not face any problem."