Show-cause addressed to CM not Trinamool leader: Mamata Banerjee

Kolkata, April 18: A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi attacked her for violating rules, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee asserted she was not scared of the BJP's "threats" and clarified that the chief secretary replied to the show-cause notice issued to her by the poll panel since it was addressed to her as the chief minister.

"If the letter was sent to me as a Trinamool leader, then I would have answered on the party's letterhead. But it was addressed to me as the chief minister, the answer was sent the corresponding way (via the chief secretary)," the Trinamool Congress supremo said at an election rally in Burdwan district.

In a sharp retort, she thundered at the BJP for "attempting to influence constitutional bodies".

"They think they can insult Bengal. I am not scared of their threats. I am just waiting for the elections. I will take inch-by-inch account from all those who are slandering Bengal's name," she said.

Banerjee also asserted she will not bow down to anyone just because she is contesting the elections.

"Just because I am contesting the polls doesn't mean I will bow my head and we are not thieves or dacoits," she said.

Ridiculing Banerjee for her rant against the Election Commission, Modi on Sunday accused her of misusing the state machinery.

Pointing to the state chief secretary replying to the EC notice slapped on Banerjee, Modi charged her with misusing the state machinery.

"I read somewhere that the reply to Banerjee's notice has been given by the chief secretary. If this is true, then this is the biggest flouting of poll rules. The EC notice was sent to the Trinamool chief and not the chef minister. It was the responsibility of Didi or her party or her party's lawyer to reply," he said.

IANS