KOLKATA /
After staying put for 36 hours to protest the alleged army deployment in the state, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee left the state Secretariat Friday evening. However she threatened to explore “legal options” if the army was not withdrawn.
Addressing the media before leaving the seat of power “Nabanna” in neighbouring Howrah district, Banerjee said the army was deployed at toll plazas, keeping her government “in the dark” about the move.
“We have never seen such arrogance (by the Centre). If army is not withdrawn, we will explore legal options,” she said.
She said she had great respect for the army, but was “sad” in the manner in which they were being used for “political vendetta”.
Banerjee, who is also the Trinamool Congress supremo, claimed the army informed the police about their exercise only for one spot — the toll plaza of Vidyasagar Setu (Bridge) near Nabanna.
“Police did not permit them to conduct such exercise. They did not give any intimation for other places where they undertook their exercise,” she said.
The Chief Minister said such exercises were not conducted in states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, Punjab, Kerala and Uttar Pradesh.
“Why was it conducted in Bengal?” she asked and answered her own question: “It was done in Bengal because we have been raising our voice for the people of India.”