Mamata fires fresh salvo at 'spineless' political leaders

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West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday hit out at her detractors whom she described as spineless.

Only a day earlier she had shot off a protest letter to Union home minister P. Chidambaram challenging his statement that incidents of political violence had increased during her tenure. On Saturday she posted on her Facebook profile a long comment on the present political scenario.

“Nowadays, I am not surprised, when I see growing number of so-called political leaders having no spines. In my opinion, it has become a potential area of doing research on this aspect,” Banerjee said in her latest Facebook post.

Political observers believe that although she did not mention either the Congress or named Chidamberam, the post is a veiled critism against both.

Banerjee’s 'pontification' is a direct fallout of the ongoing tug-of-war between her and the Congress party over Pranab Mukherjee’s presidential candidature. The strained relations between the two allies deteriorated further on Thursday when Mr Chidambaram targeted the state government for the “culture of violence.”

Ms Banerjee who started using the popular social networking site last month to launch her elect-Kalam campaign, wrote on Facebook today: “Age-old cherished ideals, courage and closest links with the roots of common people of the country are not found. That is why, they have become weak and afraid to fight for the cause of the common people and unveil the truth.

:I believe in the responsibility of the leadership to put demands of the people foremost and to grow as human beings. I do hope and expect young generation to realise the present state of poor leadership qualities, devoid of ideals and values.”

Reacting to the Facebook post, state Congress spokesperson Abdul Mannan said it was an appropriate description of the Trinamul Congress leaders who did not take a step without party chief’s orders.

However, state urban development minister and close associate of the chief minister, Firhad Hakim said that she had called “spineless” to those leaders who had first worked hand in hand with the Trinamul Congress to end the CPI(M)’s misrule in Bengal but who had now changed their stand.

“These people are now providing oxygen to the CPI(M). The chief minister’s description is aimed at those who pass remarks about political violence in the state in order to disturb the prevailing peace here. It is these people who have been identified as spineless,” he added.