Indian Army came down heavily on the West Bengal government for making baseless allegation against the force.
Army's Eastern Command on Friday termed 'baseless' the allegation leveled by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee that the army that has taken control of major toll plazas on the national highways in the state is accepting bribes.
Major General Sunil Yadav of Bengal Area of Eastern Command said if anyone has any doubt or confusion regarding this, the Centre should order a probe in the allegations.
The Trinamool Congress MPs raised the issue in Lok Sabha and tried to stall the proceedings, forcing Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar clarify that the army is only carrying out a routine job done every year.
“We had alerted Kolkata police...We had to carry out the screening work at toll plazas like every year on this time around. Earlier, we had chosen November 28. But due to objection from the Kolkata police—as it was bandh day—it was decided that we would do the job on December 1,” Yadav said.
Meanwhile, the issue of army deployment has brought the Trinamool Congress closer to the Congress for the first time since Mamata walked out of the UPA 1 government. Sonia Gandhi’s trusted lieutenant Ahmad Patel on Friday called up Mamata and took note of her health condition as latter had been in secretariat for more than 16 hours. The Congress has also decided to join Trinamool Congress to raise the issue in parliament.
The TMC ridiculed the reason given behind the army deployment at the toll plazas.
“They have deployed army at 19 places in West Bengal. It’s a complete destruction of spirit of federalism enshrined in the Indian constitution. Why should the army inform police and not the secretariat,” TMC MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay asked.
TMC MLAs protest
All 211 MLAs of the Trinamool Congress, led by secretary general of the party Partha Chatterjee, on Friday gheraoed Raj Bhavan in Kolkata, protesting the army deployment. As Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi was away in Delhi, Chatterjee rang up to him and alerted him about the situation.
Sources said Chatterjee sought an appointment with the governor when he would return, but was denied one.
