The Hindu : Mamata meets Advani

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jun 24, 2003

National

National

Mamata meets Advani

New Delhi June 23. The Trinamool Congress leader, Mamata Banerjee, today met the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, and alleged that there was ``no democracy'' in West Bengal where the ``police is under total control'' of the ruling Left Front.

``People in Jammu and Kashmir can vote freely but not in West Bengal. Atrocities are being committed on political workers belonging to the Opposition in the State,'' she told reporters after a 30-minute meeting with Mr. Advani here.

Asked as to what she sought from the Centre, Ms. Banerjee declined to elaborate saying that ``while law and order is a State subject, democracy is not''.

The Trinamool chief said Mr. Advani gave her a ``patient'' hearing. ``I am satisfied with my discussions,'' she said.

Asked if she had discussed the issue of her party's inclusion in the Union Cabinet, Ms. Banerjee said, ``I did not talk about it''. She also parried a question on the issue of an invitation to party colleague, Sudip Bandopadhyay, last month to join the Vajpayee Government.Mr. Advani, she said, would be visiting Kolkata on July 6 to lay the foundation stone of a gate to be constructed on the lines of India Gate here. The occasion would coincide with the birth anniversary of Jana Sangh founder, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee. — PTI

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