PM didn’t want to annoy CPM,kept away from Singur: Mamata

Bengal CM complains Singh didn't call her during her fast to protest land acquisition in Singur.

In another sign of growing strains between Trinamool and Congress,Mamata Banerjee today targeted Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for not calling her during the Singur agitation,saying it was perhaps not to annoy her arch rival,CPI-M.

“During my fast on the Singur land issue,the Prime Minister did not call me. Perhaps he did not want to annoy the CPI(M),” Banerjee remarked during an interview aired on three Bengali news channels.

Banerjee said the Prime Minister had promised to give central funds for West Bengal’s developmental activities when he visited the state. This was followed up by a visit by Pranab Mukherjee.

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“Since then,I have only seen newspaper headlines about such package,” she said suggesting that things have not moved forward.

In Lucknow,Congress refused to be drawn into a war of words with its ally.

“I assure her that Prime Minister and Pranab Mukherjee if they have made any commitments even before the elections to the people of West Bengal,it will be implemented,” party spokesperson Rashid Alvi said.

Banerjee,however,went on to say that Trinamool Congress is a “responsible” constituent of the UPA coalition.

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“We have a responsibility to maintain the alliance. But we also have a responsibility to the people who have elected us. We have told this to the Prime Minister too,” she said.

The Trinamool Congress carried out its activities based on policies,she said adding,”That is why we have protested against issues like entry of FDI in retail and hike

in petrol prices which directly affected the people. But some Congress leaders of the state were working like the CPI(M).”

She also wondered,where the government would get money to implement the Food Security Act,if it comes into force.