Bengal phone call row between Mamata, Suvendu flares up as TMC, BJP look to slug it out in court

Addressing a virtual press conference at the state secretariat Nabanna on Wednesday, the CM vehemently denied Suvendu’s statement that she dialled Shah after the TMC had lost its national party status last week. Mamata said she was shocked at the BJP leader’s claims and that she will resign if it is proved that she had phoned Shah.

Her statement came after Suvendu had on Tuesday claimed that she had made phone calls to the Union Home Minister to urge him to help the TMC retain its national party status.

The TMC was stripped of its national party status by the EC in the wake of a review of its eligibility by the poll body.

At a press conference in Kolkata Thursday, an unfazed Suvendu said, “I have received a letter, initial legal notice from her (Mamata’s) team. I will reply to this tomorrow. I want to say that I challenge her to go to court. According to rules, I cannot RTI or get details of phone calls of a chief minister. However, if she goes to court, I will make BSNL and TRAI a party and will seek call details of the CM from March 4 to April 12. The matter will be cleared in court. I accept her challenge and she should accept mine.”

Suvendu also charged, “In two press conferences recently, the honourable chief minister used unparliamentary words not only against me, the Leader of the Opposition, but also against the Union Home Minister. She said the Union Home Minister, in his recent visit to Kolkata, held a closed door meeting and planned riots… A day after Ram Navami riots (in Howrah), while speaking with a television channel she instigated violence.” He added, “We are also planning to go to court with all this.”

The LoP said the TMC dispensation was “scared” as it was facing a real Opposition now. “After 2011, CPI(M) could not put up a fight. In 2016, CPI(M) and Congress had an alliance. But there was the politics of influencing Delhi leaders. This time TMC is facing a real Opposition. It is also a fact that due to rampant corruption in the state by the ruling party leaders and MLAs, it is on the back foot. Chief Minister is nervous. More MLAs will be arrested and jailed,” he alleged.

During her Wednesday press conference, Mamata said, “I was surprised and shocked… I will resign if it is proved that I called up Amit Shah over Trinamool’s national party status.”

The CM said, “One person spreads lies and claims that I called someone four times after Trinamool Congress lost the national party status. This is then published in print media and is broadcast across news organisations. Media channels run the lies that are being spread non-stop by BJP leaders, and post my clarification, they will put out a one-line reply. So, in reality a false claim will get more limelight, and the truth will get a one-line reply.”

Mamata also said without taking any names, “From this press conference, I challenge the person who made this claim to prove his remarks, and if he can, I will resign from the post of the Chief Minister. If his claims are proved wrong, will the BJP leader resign and accept defeat? I will reiterate that I demand the resignation of the person for misusing his constitutional post and breaking the federal structure of our country, through attempts to topple a democratically-elected government.”

Reacting to Suvendu’s Thursday comments, TMC national general secretary

Abhishek Banerjee said, “He (LoP) is a liar. He always gives empty and false statements. We will definitely go to court. He said he will prove something today. Today he is saying he will only prove in court.”