Pranab defends despatch of Central forces to Lalgarh

Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee on Monday defended the despatch of forces to Lalgarh in West Bengal, saying the Centre is committed to make available security personnel if any state government requests for them.

Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee on Monday defended the despatch of forces to Lalgarh in West Bengal, saying the Centre is committed to make available security personnel if any state government requests for them.

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“If any state government requests for paramilitary or other Central forces to tackle difficult law and order situations by following constitutional norms, the Central government will send them,” he told reporters after opening the zonal office of the Allahabad bank in Behrampore.

Asked about Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee’s annoyance over not being consulted before the decision was taken to move Central forces into Lalgarh, Mukherjee, who is also the WBPCC president, said he would discuss the matter with her.

He said post-poll violence was not desirable and state administrations should tackle them with an iron hand.