TMC maintains silence on Ayodhya verdict

The Trinamool Congress on Saturday maintained silence on the Ayodhya verdict even as major parties of the state - the BJP, CPI(M) and the Congress came out with their reactions.

Not a single leader of the ruling TMC, including party supremo Mamata Banerjee, put out a reaction on the judgement till 5 pm.

The situation across the state post the verdict is peaceful and calm and no untoward incident has been reported from any part, the police said.

According to TMC sources, there has been "strict instruction" from the party top brass asking its leaders not to "utter a single word" on the judgement.

"We have been asked not to speak on this issue. Only our party supremo Mamata Banerjee will speak on it if needed. Or it will be by someone assigned by her," a senior TMC leader told PTI on condition of anoynimity.

TMC's silence on the historic verdict by the Supreme Court on Saturday backing the construction of a Ram temple at the disputed site drew sharp reactions from the BJP and Congress.

Asked to comment, the BJP state president Dilip Ghosh dared the TMC to take a stand on the issue.

"Whenever there is an issue concerning national security, the TMC leadership either goes silent or takes a stand which is completely against the interests of the nation and society. This time too the same thing has happened," he said.

"I ask them(TMC) to come out clean on whether they support it (the judgement) or are opposed to it. I am sure they won't be able to answer my question," Ghosh said.

The TMC is always ahead of others in commenting on issues it does not understand, a BJP leader said on condition of anonymity and added "Why is it (TMC) not making any comment now?"