JOIN USThe CPM spiked the allegation as ‘irresponsible and defamatory’ and demanded that she withdraw the accusation.
The war of words started when State Public Health Engineering Minister Subrata Mukherjee stated that a rumour was circulating that the water plant at Nodakhali in South 24 Parganas district was poisoned and alleged that the CPM was behind the conspiracy.
Mukherjee also said that he was informed that the CPM was behind the rumour and suspected that there was a deep conspiracy going on.
Endorsing her cabinet colleague’s statement, Banerjee said the government would nail those responsible for spreading the canard.
Demanding expunging of the statements, which was ruled out by Speaker Biman Mukherjee, the Left Front members led by CPM walked out of the House. Speaking to reporters outside the House, Banerjee said: “I endorse what my minister has said. This is a dangerous game; a political party hatching conspiracies because it is out of power.
They want to murder people to discredit this government. They are spreading rumours.”
“What sort of politics is this? Just because somebody is not in power, why should they poison water, mid-day meals or disrupt Intensive Child Development Scheme projects?”
Opposition leader Surya Kanta Mishra of CPM vehemently countered the charges saying, “It is defamatory and unprecedented. It is unimaginable that a chief minister can make such a statement in the assembly.”
“It appears she has not changed even after becoming the chief minister. As an opposition leader she had alleged that we poisoned water of a tank in Kolkata. But till now she has not ordered any probe.”
Allegations a habit
Alleging Banerjee of making baseless allegations when she was not even in power, Mishra said, “She had also blamed us for the Gyaneshwari Express train accident. But everybody knows how she has changed her statement now,” he said.
Mishra said the Left Front Legislature Party met and demanded that the chief minister withdraw her allegations. “We will see if the government makes a statement.