'Appalled at false statements': Mamata Banerjee on Suvendu's Amit Shah call remark, TMC threatens legal action
Kolkata/IBNS: The Trinamool Congress Wednesday threatened to initiate legal proceedings against Bengal's Leader of Opposition and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Suvendu Adhikari if he didn't immediately withdraw his "false" statement against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
On Tuesday Adhikari claimed at a rally in Hooghly's Singur that Banerjee had dialled Union Home Minister Amit Shah four times to request him to repeal the Election Commission's decision revoking TMC’s national party status.
In a letter to Adhikari, Trinamool's leader in the Rajya Sabha Derek O'Brien referred to Banerjee saying that "No such conversation ever took place between her and Amit Shah."
The letter was posted on the Trinamool's official Twitter handle with the party tagging both Shah and Adhikari under the caption "See you in court".
The letter alleged that by making such a "false" statement, Adhikari has attempted to "defame our party and mislead the public".
.@AmitShah & @SuvenduWB, SEE YOU IN COURT! https://t.co/NgGcvJq0Pa pic.twitter.com/YKsHyVVme4
— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) April 19, 2023
"It is evident that you have caused to make a such an incorrect and motivated statement without making any enquiry to verify its authenticity including from Sri Amit Shah and in fact knowing the same to be a lie," O'Brien stated.
"Under such circumstances, we call upon you to immediately withdraw such false statement failing which we shall be constrained to initiate appropriate legal proceedings against you and Sri Amit Shah, who needlessly shall be drawn into a serious litigation for such falsehood of yours," he asserted.
Mamata Banerjee's reaction:
During a press conference, CM Mamata Banerjee said she was "appalled" at how a false statement was doing rounds in the media.
"I am appalled how without clarifying the truth, you all (referring to media people) have carried the news that I called Amit Shah after TMC lost its national party status. This is a complete lie," said Banerjee.
.@SuvenduWB is a liar and he is spreading FAKE NEWS.
— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) April 19, 2023
He must apologize to the the people of Bengal for repeatedly LYING because Hon'ble CM @MamataOfficial DID NOT reach out to the HM @AmitShah regarding @ECISVEEP's decision to revoke our National Party status. pic.twitter.com/S3ZcRK5frr
Without naming Suyvendu Adhikari directly, the TMC supremo called him a "liar" and accused him of spreading fake news.
"He must apologize to the people of Bengal for repeatedly lying," she added.
Banerjee said the BJP is not above the Constitution.
Calling BJP the most corrupt party, Banerjee said: " It is a trail of corruption, neglect and apathy which is evident all over the country! BJP-run states are plagued with malfeasance, injustice, and the absence of freedom of speech and expression."
.@BJP4India is the most corrupt political party in the country!
— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) April 19, 2023
Its TRAIL OF CORRUPTION, NEGLECT, AND APATHY is evident all over the country!
BJP-run states are plagued with malfeasance, injustice, and absence of freedom of speech and expression. pic.twitter.com/Q4qOqk2cqY
Meanwhile, referring to Banerjee's challenge that she would resign if anybody can prove his claim that she rang up Union Home Minister Amit Shah four times after Trinamool Congress lost its "All India" tag, Adhikari stated, "For making the call to Delhi, you used a landline. I'd expose you in due time. Wait for my befitting reply tomorrow. "
On Tuesday Adhikari claimed that Banerjee had dialled Shah four times to request him to repeal the Election Commission's decision revoking TMC’s national party status.
Referring to Banerjee's naming some districts, Adhikari said, "You know why you keep repeating Purulia, Bankura, Birbhum, Malda, Medinipur; because in your subconscious mind, you know that you grabbed power in (May) 2011 because I was in charge of these districts. Your worthless Bhaipo (nephew) was nowhere in the scene & was launched only after July 2011."
A CM who's taken Oath of Office bearing allegiance to the Constitution of India; is politically attacking ECI (Autonomous Constitutional Authority), at a Press Conference inside State Secretariat with the National Flag & Emblem in the background.@ECISVEEP please take cognizance: pic.twitter.com/uVAXogabXA
— Suvendu Adhikari • শুভেন্দু অধিকারী (@SuvenduWB) April 19, 2023