The Trinamool Congress sent a legal notice and demanded an apology from the former West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee within 48 hours for questioning the ‘honesty’ of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during a television interview on Monday.
Following a directive by Trinamool Congress All India general secretary Mukul Roy, the notice was sent to Bhatacharjee on Wednesday by lawyer Rajdeep Mazumdar where Bhattacharjee has been asked to apologise publicly within 48 hours for his remarks against the Trinamool chief, failing which the party would start legal proceedings against him in both civil and criminal courts.
“Don’t consider this as a political stunt. We will go to any extent to protect the integrity of the party and our leader and if needed we will file a defamation suit against him,” a senior party member told Deccan Herald on condition of anonymity.The controversy broke out when, during an interview to a local television channel, Bhattacharjee was asked to comment on Trinamool projecting Banerjee as a symbol of honesty, he replied: "I am unable
to agree".
Pressed further, Bhattacharjee said “You conduct a probe into her family condition now as compared to what it was earlier. I can't accept her as being honest. This is no secret. A lot of people close to her know this and they have started talking about it”. Lashing out at Bhattacharjee, State Urban Development Minister Firhad hakim said, “Nobody in Indian politics can question Mamata Banerjee's honesty. Workers of the Trinamool Congress believe her. The people of the state believe her. Buddhadeb should come to his senses. When that happens, he will admit his mistake and apologise to Banerjee”.
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