Mamata projecting army annual exercise in the wrong light: Government

The Centre on Friday in a statement said that Mamata Banerjee’s antics for stalling the parliament in regard to Army’s annual exercise has left people dissatisfied.  The Centre also criticized her for diverting the parliament because of a regular exercise. They said that her antics were projecting the army’s placement in West Bengal in wrong light. The issue Mamata has been raising was, why the Army was taking over toll plazas in West Bengal, and why was it that her plane had to be held midair despite low fuel. The Centre, however, has denied these claims and said that this is a regular exercise and local authorities had full knowledge of this.

Venkaiah Naidu asked why is the topic is diverting from black money and corruption and parliament is disturbed on simpler topics.

The Cheif Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee stayed in the state secretariat on Thursday, even though the Army was removed near the state secretariat area as per her request. Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu addressed this issue saying, “One, there was a diversion or delay of an aircraft. Only Mamata Banerjee was not on the aircraft that was midair, many others were also there. The government has a concern about all of them. She (Mamata) said it (aircraft) ran out of fuel. An inquiry was set up under DGCA. But she made it a big issue as if it is personally oriented. Two, the military is checking vehicles in West Bengal. It has already been issued that this is an annual exercise. What is her problem? If she wants to rake up this issue, she can. But why are they diverting from real issues like tackling black money, why are they hesitant on discussing that, I do not understand.” He also said that people are quite dissatisfied how the house is being disturbed by one issue or another and also said that this might make people angry.

Army checking vehicles in West Bengal as part of an annual exercise.

Minister of State for External Affairs, General (retd) V.K. Singh termed the disruption of parliament on such petty issues as “painful.” He also said that “Army carries out a routine exercise in every state. Projecting this routine exercise in a wrong light is very painful. The portrayal of annual regular exercise by the army in wrong light is directly questioning the credibility of the Army.” He also added that involving army into politics was “sad.”

Army has been posted in several parts of the West Bengal State and Mamata Banerjee questioned if it was an “Army coup.” The Army rejected her claims and said that this exercise was being carried out in coordination with Kolkata Police.