UPA wants Mamata to explain Lalgarh rally speech

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Deeply embarrassed by railway minister Mamata Banerjee’s pro-Maoist speech in Lalgarh on August 9, the UPA government has sought an explanation from her. Sources said that parliamentary affairs minister Pawan Bansal has spoken to Ms Banerjee over the phone requesting her to make a statement in Parliament over her speech in Lalgarh rally.

Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee is also likely to call on Ms Banerjee at her Kalighat home on Saturday. “He is concerned about her health and is coming to see her. Pranabda had sent her flowers and a message wishing her speedy recovery on Wednesday,” a close Pranab aide said. Inquiring about her health may be the ostensible reason but the real purpose of Mr Mukherjee’s proposed visit is to persuade her to send a written statement to Parliament as soon as possible because the government is feeling the Opposition heat over her remarks about Maoist leader Azad.
A day after the Lalgarh rally, the UPA government had come under sharp criticism from the Opposition notably the BJP and the CPI(M) who wanted to know how could a Cabinet minister hobnob with the Maoists and their frontal organisation People’s Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCPA). They particularly targeted Ms Banerjee for her remark that Maoist leader Azad was murdered. BJP leader in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley went so far as to demand a statement by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on the issue. The Union finance minister had to intervene and assure the Opposition that he would ascertain the facts from the railway minister.
While returning from Lalgarh, a lorry had hit a car in her convoy and the car in return hit her car. Ms Banerjee was flung against the dashboard and suffered injuries in her chest. The doctors advised her complete rest as a result of which she is not attending Parliament for the past few days. The Opposition, however, has raised a furore over her absence.
Meanwhile, the Trinamul Congress on Friday hit the streets protesting the CPI(M)’s conspiracy to eliminate Ms Banerjee. The Trinamul Congress has made “attempt on Mamata’s life” into a major political issue. The CPI(M), however, scoffs at these charges. “The truck did not even hit her vehicle then how could it be an attempt on her life. The people travelling in the vehicle which was hit by the truck were not even grievously injured. Then how could Ms Banerjee suffer injuries who was in another car?” asked CPI(M) state committee leader Mohammed Salim.
He claimed that it was a mere accident which occurred due to the truck’s brake failure. “Ms Banerjee knows it also. But it is the railway minister’s ploy to avoid Parliament and national media,” he said.