BJP: Modi-Mamata meeting not political, but constitutional

State BJP leaders at Nazrul Mancha in Kolkata on Saturday.

“ENS, Kolkata, May 10, 2015, Putting an end to speculations over Prime Minister Narendra Modi meeting Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, state BJP president Rahul Sinha on Saturday maintained there was no scope of a “secret alliance” between BJP and Trinamool Congress.Speculations by a section of the media and some parties are never correct,” Sinha said while leading a delegation of state party leaders to meet Modi in Raj Bhavan. The meeting between Modi and the BJP delegation went for around 15 minutes.

Sinha, after the meeting, told mediapersons the meeting between Modi and Mamata was “not political, but constitutional”. “The media and Opposition parties have speculated several things and all have turned out to be wrong. So, we should not speculate much,” he claimed.

“We have demanded punishment for those involved in the chit-fund scam. Following the blast at a factory in West Midnapore’s Pingla, villages had asked me to take up the matter with Modiji. I did so. I told him that the villagers have maintained that the factory did not manufacture crackers and was stocking bombs too. He given us a patient hearing and wanted to know certain issues,” added Sinha.

When asked about parties like Congress and CPM claiming that a deal has been sealed between BJP and Trinamool, Union MoS for Urban Development, Babul Supriyo, said: “We are in a multi-party democracy where we need to pass several bills with the help of all parties. The PM, CM, and all MPs are elected representatives of the people. We need to convince all parties about bills. On several issues, Trinamool, CPM and Congress are with us and on some, they are against us. So, calling it a deal is unfair if Trinamool supports us on an issue.”

He added: “There are some constitutional duties. This meeting between the PM and CM is constitutional and not political and there is no deal or alliance. Our political fight is at the ground, but the Prime Minister has always told us not to compromise on the development of a state due to political reasons.”

Supriyo was seen taking a lift in Mamata’s vehicle from Nazrul Manch in Kolkata, where the three social security schemes were launched by Modi on Saturday. “I did not have my car as the road was blocked due to security reasons. Didi was passing by… she suddenly stopped her vehicle and asked me to get into her car. This is political courtesy and I got into her car. Could I have told her that I will not come with her as she belongs to another party? We also had jhalmuri while coming to Raj Bhavan. But, in political life, we are opponents,” said Supriyo.

On the issue of Bengal demanding a debt waiver from the Centre, he said: “The chief minister must have requested for a debt waiver. The Centre is trying its best…”