Mamata better leader than many others, says MK Narayanan

Kolkata: Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee is a better leader than many others, former national security advisor M K Narayanan said on Tuesday.

Narayanan, also a former Governor of Bengal, said he had spent a lifetime in intelligence and had seen almost all leaders since Independence and she is "better suited among others as she is a listener at least to some.... She is a difficult person with some remarkable qualities."

Participating at a session in the Bharat Chamber of Commerce (BCC), the former IPS officer, however, did not link his statement to whether the state Chief Minister will be a good Prime Minister.

To a question by BCC president Sitaram Sharma, he said, "It is a difficult question to answer."

The former Governor had seen the transition of government from the Left Front government to the Trinamool Congress during his stint between 2010-14 in the state.

Narayanan said he had an excellent experience with both Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and Mamata Banerjee, the two Chief Ministers he had worked with.

On the crisis at the top layer of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), he said it should be resolved within the system and the head of the agency should also be selected by it.

What is happening at the CBI is a matter of concern, Narayanan said while taking part at a session with the Bharat Chamber of Commerce (BCC) here.

On the issues with China and Pakistan, he said: "China should be our main concern. One country which does pose danger to ours is China. China wants you off the main table... does not want you on the same table," he said.