Pranab backs Mamata's remark on Azad
Kolkata: UPA's key trouble shooter, Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, on Sunday backed the Trinamool Congress Chief and Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee, saying she's not contradicting the government's position on the killing of Naxal leader Azad.
Mukherjee also said that Mamata is free to invite Naxals for talks, if she thinks the issue can be tackled through dialogue.
Mamata facing flak from the Opposition for her statement on the killing of the Naxal leader, received support from Mukherjee, who found "nothing wrong" with it. When asked whether Mamata, being part of the UPA government, was unjustified in saying that the killing of Azad was not correct at a public meeting, Mukherjee said, "I don't think so. We had a detailed discussion with the Prime Minister, Home Minister and Mamata Banerjee and she has explained her position".
"She has said if Azad was killed because of the fact that he was trying to initiate talks with the Centre then that should be explained," Mukherjee said.
"Even after that, the Andhra Pradesh government has come out with a statement on the killing of Azad and they explained their position. So there is nothing wrong in making the statement," the Union Finance Minister said.
This came after Home Minister P Chidambaram said in Parliament that no one in the government should support Naxals. Chidambaram in his reply to Lok Sabha even said that it was upto the Andhra Pradesh government to order an inquiry into Azad's killing and not the Centre.
Mamata Banerjee at her Lalgarh rally on August 9 had said Azad's killing was "not correct", which sparked a lot of controversy.
Azad was killed by Andhra Pradesh Special Intelligence Branch at Adilabad district on July 2 allegedly in a fake encounter.
0 Response to "Pranab backs Mamata's remark on Azad"
Post a Comment