Minister accuses Mamata of secret pact with GJM

Siliguri, Nov 4 : Urban Development and Municipal Minister Asok Bhattacharya today charged Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee with having a 'secret pact' with the GJM, spearheading the statehood demand for Darjeeling.

The charge was, however, denied by the leadership of both Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and Trinamool Congress.

Mr Bhattacharya claimed at a press conference that Ms Banerjee, during her visit for laying the Sikkim-Sevak rail project foundation on October 30, had a meeting with GJM pesident Bimal Gurung.

The minister, also a local CPI(M) leader, said the GJM's latest support to Trinamool Congress candidate Khageswar Roy for Rajganj assembly constituency was ample testimony of their understading.

He said the Trinamool Congress was answerable for its league with the Maoists and lately with the GJM.

GJM spokesman Harka Bahadur Chettri while denying any such pact said Mr Bhattacharya's allegation was a 'figment of imagination'.

He said the GJM's support to TMC was to ensure the defeat of CPI(M) candidate Dhanapaty Roy as any opposition to the ruling party was a welcoming standing for them.

Mr Chettri said there was allegation that Bimal Gurung and Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had a secret meeting just before the Siliguri Municipal polls but it was yet to be established.

TMC's Darjeeling district president Gautam Deb said Mr Bhattacharya was misleading the people on false propaganda to gain mileage before the November 7 by-election. He said there was no truth in the minister's version about the meeting between the TMC chief and GJM leader.

--UNI

(c) 2009 Published with permission from United News of India.
Unauthorised publication of any content from NewKerala.Com is prohibited