Army deployment: West Bengal Governor says ‘don’t defame army’, Mamata Banerjee hits back

“IndiGo pilots aren’t al-Qaida aides to take (their) own lives to kill Mamata ji and India isn’t Pakistan to have army coup. So keep Army above politics,” he tweeted on Friday while referring to allegations of threat to the TMC supremo’s life due to delay in landing of her IndiGo flight despite reported technical glitches.

Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee attacked Keshari Nath on his disapproval of her remarks on the deployment of army at toll plazas. Reacting to the Governor, Banerjee said, “The Governor is speaking in the voice of central government; before making statements, all details should have been checked.”

Earlier, the army withdrew deployment from Palhit toll plaza and other areas after the completion of a 72-hour exercise. CPRO defence S S Birdi said, “As the 72-hour exercise got over, we withdrew deployment from Palhit toll plaza and other areas yesterday night.”

The TMC had earlier cried foul over the army deploying its team at two plazas in West Bengal and alleged that this was done without any prior information to the state government. Mamata also termed the move as “black day”, pointing out that such a deployment takes place only normally during disasters.

The army, however, clarified on the issue by releasing a series of letters stating that it was very well in contact with the Kolkata Police and that it was nothing but a routine exercise which takes place every three to four years.

(With inputs from ANI)