New Delhi, June 9: With the crisis brewing in the Trinamool Congress over many of dissident MPs switching to supoort the BJP, Trinamool Congress leaders Kalyan Banerjee and Kirti Azad on Tuesday hut back and accused them of lacking political morality, maintaining links with the ruling party and abandoning party workers at a time when they were allegedly facing harassment and political attacks. They also said that their dual character has been exposed.
Addressing a press conference here at his residence, Banerjee said the Trinamool had called the briefing after dissident MPs claimed support from a majority of the party’s Lok Sabha members and announced plans to seek recognition as a separate faction.
Lok Sabha MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, who is at the forefront of the rebel faction, said on Monday that they had decided to write to Speaker Om Birla declaring support for the NDA. Dastidar claimed that 20 MPs of the party have decided to write to the speaker.
Referring to former Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, who resigned from the Upper House after levelling allegations against the party, Banerjee said rebel MPs should follow the same course if they had grievances against the organisation.
“Roy has resigned from the Rajya Sabha after making allegations against our party. Those who are making allegations against the party must follow his path and show political morality by resigning as MP,” he said.
Questioning the authenticity of a letter reportedly circulated by the dissident camp, Banerjee said such an important document has not been placed in the public domain even after 24 hours.
“If you are so honest, why don’t you make it public? Why don’t you have the courage to give the letter to the press?” Banerjee asked, alleging that the entire exercise lacked transparency.
He also accused the rebel leaders of effectively aligning themselves with the BJP.
The two leaders noted that rebel MPs had met Union minister Bhupender Yadav in the presence of West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, proving they are with the BJP.
On Monday, at a time when Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and several senior MPs attended a meeting of INDIA bloc leaders, some dissident Trinamool Congress MPs gathered at the residence of Union minister and BJP’s West Bengal election in-charge Yadav.
Slamming the rebels, Banerjee said, “They may make some jugglery of words, but people are not fools. They have changed their leader from Mamata Banerjee to Narendra Modi”.
“We are very happy, this double character people have gone. I talked to Yusuf Pathan yesterday. He was in Baroda. He said Amit Shah has called him and he’s coming to Delhi to meet him. Talked in the night. Amit Shah is working to break the party, he is the person,” Banerjee charged.
Speaking at the conference, Azad accused the rebels of betraying the party and preparing to join hands with the BJP.
“When BJP goons attack party workers, will you support them? This is betrayal. If you want to go to the BJP, say that openly,” he said.
Targeting Dastidar, Azad questioned her criticism of the party leadership and referred to the opportunities she had got within the organisation.
“Kakoli lost five elections, yet Mamata Banerjee made her an MP. You were removed as chief whip because you would not come to Parliament and would give instructions over the phone,” he alleged.
“These traitors can leave, but they should never take the name of Trinamool. We were born out of struggle,” Azad added.
