Pranab backs Mamata for comment on Azad's killing

Kolkata, Aug 29: Union Finance Minister Pranb Mukherjee supported Trinamool Congress leader and Railways Minister, Mamata Banerjee, for her controversial comment on the killing of Naxal leader Azad.

Pranb Mukherjee told that Mamata was not contradicting the government's position on the killing of Naxal leader Azad. He also told that Mamata is free to invite Naxals for talks, if she thinks the issue can be tackled through dialogue.

"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," said Mukherjee.

"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," he added.

Earlier in Parliament, Home Minister P Chidambaram told that no one in UPA government should support Naxals.

On Aug 9, Mamata Banerjee at her Lalgarh rally told that Azad's killing was not correct, which sparked a lot of controversy. The Naxal leader Azad was killed by Andhra Pradesh Special Intelligence Branch at Adilabad district on Jul 2 allegedly in a fake encounter.

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