West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said the Centre had deployed the Army in several areas of the state without intimating the local administration, ANI reported. Addressing reporters at a press conference, Banerjee accused the central government of creating a “civil war-like situation” in the state, The Hindu reported.
Banerjee said, “The state government has not been informed about this deployment by the Centre. This is clearly a violation of the rules and understanding [between the Centre and the state].” She said Army personnel were deployed at Dankuni, in Hooghly district, and Palsit in the state’s southern region, the English daily reported. The chief minister said she hoped her statements would “not be distorted”, ANI reported.
At least six vehicles marked “Military Police” were spotted at the toll plaza on Vidyasagar Setu, a bridge that connects Kolkata to Howrah, The Hindu reported. Unidentified officials told the English daily that it was only “a routine exercise.”
Earlier on Thursday, leaders from her Trinamool Congress party had claimed that a flight carrying the chief minister on Wednesday was delayed and made to hover over Kolkata airport for 30 minutes because of an alleged plot to kill her. The airline concerned, IndiGo, has denied the allegations that the flight was low on fuel during the delay. The party leaders had earlier said Banerjee was targeted because of her opposition to the Centre’s move to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.
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