Mamata threatens to send TMC MPs to BJP-ruled states

Irked by BJP sending two teams of its central leaders to the state over the alleged incidents of violence against its workers, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today threatened to send her MPs to BJP-ruled states if there was any incident there.

"I feel that from now on, if there is any incident in any BJP-ruled state, we will also send a central team Trinamool Congress central team there because it cannot be one-sided," the TMC supremo said here.

"They will get just as they do, Tit for tat. We don't want any unnecessary tension, but if BJP thinks that it will indulge in violence by joining hands with the CPI(M) goons, then that cannot be tolerated by a democratic government," she said.

"The BJP has sent two teams in one month. I can also do that. I will get my 46 MPs to move around. I will do that in Delhi. Do they want to see to what extent I can go?" a defiant Banerjee posed.

The Trinamool Congress has 34 Lok Sabha MPs and is the fourth largest party in the Lower House, while it has 12 MPs in the Rajya Sabha.

"Why are they trying to disturb a state? it is unfortunate. I don't want this," she said while talking to a vernacular news channel.

"If the Centre can indulge in non-cooperation with the state, then the state can also choose not to cooperate with the Centre. It will not brook well for anyone. Government and party are different entities," Banerjee said, adding everyone should keep away from vengeance.

She claimed that since the BJP came to power at the Centre, her party was playing a constructive role with regard to development.

"I want to say that if you do good work, then it's good, but if we do something bad, then they can oppose, I have no problem with that. If they do anything against communal harmony or indulge in anti-people activity, we will certainly oppose, the chief minister said while reiterating that TMC will play a "very constructive role."

"But I am seeing that since the day they have come to power at the Centre, they are doing the same thing as Congress which had stopped our development work by stopping funds," Banerjee said.

The Trinamool Congress supremo accused BJP's central leadership of giving indulgence to creating law and order problem.

"This is not good. BJP must remember that it also has states ruled by it. We don't have very less number of MPs. We have 46 MPs," she said.

"They are trying to politicise a family feud over a property dispute," Banerjee said referring to a BJP team led by party vice-president Balbir Punj that visited Ilambazar in Birbhum district, where its worker Rahim Sheikh was killed by alleged TMC goons on June 7.
A BJP central team led by party vice-presidents S S Ahluwalia and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi had about a fortnight ago visited Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district where party workers were injured in an attack allegedly by TMC supporters.

"We have tolerated enough. From today we will take strong action as per law," Banerjee said.

"We won't allow to happen in Bengal what is happening in Uttar Pradesh. They are fomenting communal tension there, but I won't let such situation occur in my state," she said.

She claimed that the BJP central leadership was afraid of the development work being carried out by the Bengal government despite paucity of funds.

"If I can survive by fighting the CPI(M) for 35 years, then it will take me just a second to deal with these cockroaches," Banerjee said while talking about dealing with the BJP in the state.