Will not attend PM’s oath taking ceremony: Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday announced that she will not attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony.

Banerjee in tweet stated that she has decided to not to attend the event as the BJP has claimed that 54 persons have been killed in political violence in West Bengal.

Earlier in the day, BJP has announced that families of BJP workers who were killed in West Bengal in the last few months by TMC cadres will attend the Prime Minister’s oath-taking ceremony.

“ Congratulations, new Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji. It was my plan to accept the ‘Constitutional invitation’ and attend the oath-taking ceremony. However, in the last one hour I am seeing media reports that the BJP are claiming that 54 people have been killed in political violence in Bengal,” tweeted Banerjee.

She further stated that the claims made by BJP are false and no murders have taken place in the state.

“ This is completely untrue. There have been no political murders. These deaths may have occurred due to personal enmity, family quarrels and other disputes; nothing related to politics. There are no such records with us. So I am sorry Narendra Modi ji, this has compelled me not attend the ceremony,” tweeted Banerjee.

She also stated that the Prime Minister oath taking ceremony should not be devalued by any political party to gain political advantage.

“ The ceremony is an august occasion to celebrate democracy, not one that should be devalued by any political party which uses it as an opportunity to score political points. Please excuse me,” tweeted Banerjee.

Her decision comes a day after she said that she will try to attend the Prime Minister’s oath-taking ceremony as it is a constitutional event.