West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee left the secretariat on Friday evening after staying there for 36 hours in protest against the alleged deployment of the army in the state while keeping her government in the dark.
“If the government doesn’t withdraw army deployed in the state, we will fight legally,” she said, addressing the media after leaving the Secretariat.
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief also branded the present regime as a ‘daku government’, further alleging that the Centre is looting the country.
“Modi government has become ‘Daku government’, just want to say that Modi ji is looting people’s money,” she added.
Responding to Mamata’s ultimatum, wing commander SS Birdi of the Eastern Command CPRO said “the Army deployment (in West Bengal) won’t be called off as it is a routine exercise and will continue till midnight today.”
Read | Army rebuts Mamata charges, says Bengal exercise done with police coordination
Mamata has accused the central government of “deploying the army” along a highway toll plaza at the second Hooghly Bridge, about 500 metres from the secretariat ‘Nabanna’ in neighbouring Howrah district.
{{/usCountry}}Mamata has accused the central government of “deploying the army” along a highway toll plaza at the second Hooghly Bridge, about 500 metres from the secretariat ‘Nabanna’ in neighbouring Howrah district.
{{/usCountry}}Earlier on Friday, the TMC threw an open challenge to the Centre to come forth with the documents proving that the West Bengal government gave the green signal for the deployment of army troops in certain areas in the state.
Speaking to ANI here, TMC spokesperson Derek O’Brien asserted that no such document existed, adding that he would hang his head in shame if the government could prove him otherwise.
Nevertheless, the Parliament again witnessed ruckus today as the opposition continued to corner the Centre over the army’s deployment in West Bengal.
Read | Oppn slams govt over army deployment in Bengal, Parrikar says routine exercise