Modi-Mamata in a war of words

Mamata Banerjee, Chief Minister of West Bengal. 

Political rivals spar over cyclone

Super cyclone Fani may not have caused major damage to West Bengal but it surely triggered a political storm resulting in a war of words between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Addressing two rallies in the State at Haldia and Jhargram in south Bengal, Mr. Modi on Monday flayed Ms. Banerjee for not attending to his phone calls made in the context of cyclone Fani. The CM responded with equal gusto saying she, “do(es) not not consider Mr. Modi as the PM and will not share any platform with him during the polls.”

“Speed breaker didi made all attempts to politicise the cyclone. I tried to talk to Mamata didi over phone but she is so proud that she did not receive my call. I waited for her to call back but she did not do that either,” Mr. Modi said at a rally at Tamluk in the State’s Purba Medinipur. The PM said that he had called a second time but Ms. Banerjee did not respond this time, too. “Politics is so important to her that she does not care about people,” Mr. Modi alleged.

At a rally at Gopiballavpur, Ms. Banerjee said, “I do not consider him [Narendra Modi] Prime Minister. When the new PM comes, we will speak.” The CM said the Prime Minister was supposed to address a rally at Jhargram earlier. “Instead, he lands at Kalaikunda and wants to hold a meeting on cyclone damage. Why should we attend?” she asked.