Mamata wishes BJP well, reserves support for secular front
19 Nov 2014 5:23 AM IST
With her attending the event celebrating the 125th birth anniversary of India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in the national capital, speculations were rife that she might join hand with the Congress in future.
However, Banerjee, on a three-day visit to Delhi, ruled out any such move by her party and claimed that she usually attends such events as a symbol of ‘walking together.’ ‘I have many well wishers in other parties including CPI(M), BJP etc but that does not mean that there is something politically cooking.
They are my political colleagues and that’s why I talk with them. Media people always speculate such things,’ Banerjee said informally while interacting with media persons. The two-day international conference to resurrect Nehru’s legacy at a trying time for the party was attended by Banerjee, Prakash Karat and Sitaram Yechury from CPI(M), former PM and JD(S) chief H D Deve Gowda, JD(U) president Sharad Yadav, CPI’s D Raja, NCP general secretary D P Tripathi and others.
Yet, when she was asked specifically whether she would join hands with the Congress in future in case regional and national parties unite in an attempt to form a secular front, she said, ‘All I can say I will extend my full support to them.’
‘Let the Congress form the platform first, then we will see. If they want any assistance from us then we will provide it for the larger interest of the society. Congress has taken many wrong decisions and therefore the party is facing such crises. If secular front would have been formed earlier then BJP would have never come to power. If tomorrow any such front forms then you will see the result next day. I will be happy to see such front in future,’ she added.
On the context of whether Congress leader Sonia Gandhi is looking for ways of realignment with All India Trinamool Congress, Banerjee said, ‘On the 125th birth anniversary of Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, she has stressed for reassessment. I thing this line is very important.’ Hitting out indirectly at the BJP, she said, ‘If we divide each other, India will be finished. I will continue to support those who are in favour of communal harmony. I love dharma gurus but I am against the danga guru.’
On the subject of what her party stand would be regarding Centre’s move to amend some of the bills related to land acquisition and on the issue of FDI, Banerjee said, ‘Only thing which we welcome is the issue of Indian enclaves in Bangladesh and vice versa. Bengal is a peaceful state and we will not allow any communal force to create problem in Bengal. We will not allow any tension and arms training.’
On Monday evening, Banerjee also met Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and asked him about his health and recuperation post surgery. She also invited him for the Bengal Global Business Summit, which is scheduled to be held on 7-8 January, 2015, in Kolkata.
She also called on veteran BJP leader LK Advani at his residence here and met his ailing wife Kamala. She is supposed to meet President Pranab Mukherjee today. When asked why she hasn’t met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she said, ‘He is in foreign country, how can I meet him. I am a very small fry.’ While taking a jibe at Modi, she said, ‘Only selfie will not help.’
However, Banerjee, on a three-day visit to Delhi, ruled out any such move by her party and claimed that she usually attends such events as a symbol of ‘walking together.’ ‘I have many well wishers in other parties including CPI(M), BJP etc but that does not mean that there is something politically cooking.
They are my political colleagues and that’s why I talk with them. Media people always speculate such things,’ Banerjee said informally while interacting with media persons. The two-day international conference to resurrect Nehru’s legacy at a trying time for the party was attended by Banerjee, Prakash Karat and Sitaram Yechury from CPI(M), former PM and JD(S) chief H D Deve Gowda, JD(U) president Sharad Yadav, CPI’s D Raja, NCP general secretary D P Tripathi and others.
Yet, when she was asked specifically whether she would join hands with the Congress in future in case regional and national parties unite in an attempt to form a secular front, she said, ‘All I can say I will extend my full support to them.’
‘Let the Congress form the platform first, then we will see. If they want any assistance from us then we will provide it for the larger interest of the society. Congress has taken many wrong decisions and therefore the party is facing such crises. If secular front would have been formed earlier then BJP would have never come to power. If tomorrow any such front forms then you will see the result next day. I will be happy to see such front in future,’ she added.
On the context of whether Congress leader Sonia Gandhi is looking for ways of realignment with All India Trinamool Congress, Banerjee said, ‘On the 125th birth anniversary of Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, she has stressed for reassessment. I thing this line is very important.’ Hitting out indirectly at the BJP, she said, ‘If we divide each other, India will be finished. I will continue to support those who are in favour of communal harmony. I love dharma gurus but I am against the danga guru.’
On the subject of what her party stand would be regarding Centre’s move to amend some of the bills related to land acquisition and on the issue of FDI, Banerjee said, ‘Only thing which we welcome is the issue of Indian enclaves in Bangladesh and vice versa. Bengal is a peaceful state and we will not allow any communal force to create problem in Bengal. We will not allow any tension and arms training.’
On Monday evening, Banerjee also met Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and asked him about his health and recuperation post surgery. She also invited him for the Bengal Global Business Summit, which is scheduled to be held on 7-8 January, 2015, in Kolkata.
She also called on veteran BJP leader LK Advani at his residence here and met his ailing wife Kamala. She is supposed to meet President Pranab Mukherjee today. When asked why she hasn’t met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she said, ‘He is in foreign country, how can I meet him. I am a very small fry.’ While taking a jibe at Modi, she said, ‘Only selfie will not help.’
Next Story
