West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said her demand for a three-year moratorium on payment of interest on central loans was not linked to her party's support to the UPA nominee in the Presidential polls.
"No, no, no. Support (to UPA in Presidential polls) is not linked to financial package to the state. Both are two different things," she told reporters before meeting UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi to discuss the ruling alliance's candidate in the July 19 Presidential elections.
Banerjee dismissed reports that West Bengal was seeking a financial package in return for Trinamool Congress' support to the UPA nominee in the Presidential polls.
"Whenever I come to Delhi, these kind of rumours and gossips are planted by some quarters. These are plantations. Plantations not of trees but plantation of rumours," she said.
"I condemn this circulation of rumours," she said.
Banerjee said that the West Bengal was in a precarious situation financially due to the policies pursued by the previous Left Front government and hence she had sought a moratorium on payment of interest for three years.
She said the demand for moratorium was an year-old demand and not linked to the Presidential polls.
"I have sought a moratorium on payment of interest (on Central loans) for three years and this debt burden is not my creation. Unless there is a moratorium, how will we run the government," she said.
"Whatever the state earns goes in repayment of interest. It is a very precarious situation. Please don't link it with Presidential elections," Banerjee said.