TMC, BJP engage in war of words

A war of words erupted on Friday over the flyover collapse between the Trinamool Congress and the BJP with Union Minister M A Naqvi accusing the state government of “criminal negligence”, which the TMC described as “cheap politics”. 

Naqvi, Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, said that the TMC government showed “criminal negligence” in ensuring relief work and engaging in a “competition on corruption” with the previous Left Front government which had resulted in the flyover collapse claiming 24 lives.

TMC national spokesperson Derek O’ Brien termed Naqvi’s statements as “cheap politics” in the election season.

“The chief minister and the ruling Trinamool Congress have indulged in petty politics of accusing the previous Left Front government. “It is not the time to accuse the previous government. If the previous Left Front government had indulged in corruption, then why didn’t the TMC government stop it after coming to power? It seems a competition on corruption was on between the two. And the flyover collapse is a result of it,” Naqvi told reporters here.