Proper security arrangements would be made for the railway minister, Ms Mamata Banerjee, following her charges that the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) was planning to set up a "suicide squad" to eliminate her, the finance minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, said on Sunday.
"I read about it (the allegation) in the newspaper. Proper security arrangements will be made," Mukherjee, considered the number two in the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh's cabinet, told mediapersons here.
"The allegation has been made by a central government minister. I am talking on the basis of newspaper reports. As I said, proper security arrangements will be made," Mr Mukherjee said, replying to another query on the issue.
The Trinamool Congress chief had made the startling allegations during a media conference at her Kalightat residence Saturday.
"These cowards (some CPI-M ministers and leaders) have no courage to fight against me politically and thus forming a suicide squad to eliminate me," she said.
"CPI-M and some other political parties which have vested interests - I am not speaking about all parties - have held a meeting and hatched a conspiracy to eliminate me. Such a meeting was held, you can inquire," said Banerjee, whose party is the main opposition in the state ruled for over 33 years by the CPI-M led Left Front.
She alleged that at the meeting, CPI-M leaders discussed about forming a suicide squad to eliminate her and the state government was also aware about the parleys.
"CPI-M ministers and leaders are keeping a watch on my movements. They are enquiring about my movements. A conspiracy is afoot to kill me," she said.