Modi, Mamata battle over audio, Didi orders probe
Mamata Banerjee playing politics on dead bodies: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday accused West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee of trying to reap “siyasi faida” (political dividends) from people’s deaths, a day after the release of a fresh audio clip of the Trinamul Congress supremo’s instructions in a phone call to her party candidate, Partha Pratim Roy, to keep the bodies of the four victims of Shitalkuchi firing in Coochbehar, ready for a rally.
Responding to Mr Modi immediately, Ms Banerjee accused him of tapping her phone and sought his apology and resignation as the PM. She also ordered a CID probe and vowed not to spare Mr Modi for what she described as “a great scam.”
The PM alleged at a BJP rally in Asansol of Burdwan West, “You must have heard Friday’s audio tape about what happened in Coochbehar. What kind of politics Didi is playing over the five (Ms Banerjee allegedly mentions four in the clip) painful deaths, has come to light and is now clear to all. In the audio, a TMC leader in Coochbehar is asked to take out a rally with the
Didi, to what extent will you go to for votebank? Fact is that she thought to get siyasi faida out of the deaths (of people in Cooch Behar). Playing politics over dead bodies is an old habit of Didi.
— Narendra Modi, PM
BJP has no issue to talk about, forget development. It is now tapping the conversation I am having with someone. That means all of your phones are also tapped.
— Mamata Banerjee, Bengal CM
victims’ bodies. Didi, to what extent will you go to for votebank? Fact is that she thought to get ‘siyasi faida’ out of the deaths. Playing politics over dead bodies is an old habit of Didi.”
His attack on the CM came after a BJP delegation lodged a complaint with West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer, Ariz Aftab, against the TMC chief on the audio tape on Saturday morning.
Slamming Mr Modi, Ms Banerjee told him from her rally at Katwa in Burdwan East, “When the PM says people have understood everything after hearing the audio tape on Friday, it means he is giving encouragement. He mentioned that. Then it means you, as the PM, intercepted my phone. Don’t you feel ashamed of intercepting a CM’s phone? You resign as the PM before showing your face to the people again.”
She also alleged, “If you have not done it, how could you give it a clean chit? Privacy cannot be invaded, according to a Supreme Court verdict. I have already entrusted the CID to probe who did it. I had said nothing wrong. So many youths were killed. How could I visit an area on the day of its polling? I would have been an outsider who is not allowed since I am not a voter of Coochbehar though I can visit elsewhere. So I asked for the bodies to be kept. This is true.” claimed, “Later I Ms Banerjee planned to visit Shitalkuchi. All arrangements were done. But the Election Commission imposed a 72hour ban on visit there. Isn’t it true? I want to know from you. If you have any shame, you will apologise after replying. You will also not be spared from facing the probe. You have to explain. Don’t forget that. We honour the PM chair irrespective of our dislike about you. You are insulting the chair.”
Earlier the TMC chief told another rally in Galsi of the same district, “BJP has no issue to talk about, forget development. It is now tapping the conversation I am having with someone. That means all of your phones are also tapped. Do you understand it? The central government is even tapping your phones to know what you are cooking at home. It is a great scam.”
She added, “I feel that truth should be out after the CID inquiry. I want to know who tapped my phone. I will not spare anyone. Many FIRs have been lodged. The BJP publicised it unitedly which means a guilty mind is always suspicious. BJP has done it with the help of the central paramilitary forces and your brokers. I will certainly find it out. I have already come to know who all are involved in this game. Do you think I will spare you?”
The PM and the CM also traded charges about the prosecution in the cases of violence against women and attacks on SC/ST in the state among other issues.