Mamata questions attack timing
KOLKATA: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee Monday questioned the timing of the Pulwama terror attack, asking whether the government wanted to go to war when Lok Sabha elections were round the corner.
She also accused the BJP and RSS of fomenting communal tension in the wake of the terror assault that claimed the lives of 40 CRPF troopers.
“When elections are knocking on the door you are trying to stage a war... a shadow war. Amit Shah and Narendra Modi are delivering political speeches. Even after such a big mishap you do not resign taking responsibility and are instead delivering political speeches,” she told a press conference.
The Trinamool Congress
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n supremo also wanted to know why a large convoy of CRPF personnel was allowed to move on the highway despite the government having intelligence inputs about a possible terror strike.
“The government knew of the matter. Intelligence inputs were there. Then why so many people had to die? why no action was taken?” Banerjee said she desisted from speaking against the Modi government after the incident but was compelled to talk about it now as “some people are trying to teach us what patri-
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otism is”.
She alleged while the government did nothing after t he Pathankot terror assault, it was trying to “create a war-like hysteria” ahead of the elections.
“I have a doubt. How they (Pakistan) have got this encouragement when the elections are round the corner? I dont know....why after Parliament is over. I am in doubt.... why have not we taken any action against Pakistan in the last five years,” she said.
She accused the RSS-VHPBJP combine of vitiating the atmosphere in the country “by s preadi ng t he message o f hatred”.
“They are trying to trigger communal riots by taking out late night processions with national flags. They are trying to exploit the tragedy for political dividend.