Mamata responds to PM Modi’s gift claim

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee gave a stinging response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s revelation that she sends him kurtas as gifts. Addressing an election rally in Birbhum district, Banerjee described the act as “courtesy” and said that it is different from politics.

"Modi babu has said in an interview that I send him kurtas. What is wrong with that? I send gifts not only to Modi but also to several other important people. But unlike him we don’t speak about it. It is not our culture. It is our courtesy. Courtesy and politics are different," said Banerjee.

Banerjee accused the prime minister of marketing courteous gestures for his image makeover with such comments.

"By marketing courtesy and indulging in politics over it he is trying to do image building. One can’t do image building in such a manner,” she said.

She added that while she was being polite to the prime minister, he always tried to intimidate her with CBI and dubbed her as a goon.

The Chief Minister sprang a surprise during the rally announcing former transport minister and Saradha scam accused Madan Mitra’s name as TMC candidate for the by-election in Bhatpara Assembly constituency. The assembly seat fell vacant after sitting TMC MLA Arjum Singh joined BJP and resigned to contest the Lok Sabha elections as a BJP candidate.

She also nominated Amal Kishku and Abdul Karim Chowdhury as the TMC candidates for the by-polls in Habibpur and Islampur assembly seats respectively.