Mamata didn't oppose NDA after 2002 riots, says ex-MP's book

Kolkata, April 23: The

(TMC) has found itself in a spot over a book which was written by one of its former MPs Krishna Bose, titled An Outsider in Politics. Bose, a kin of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, wrote in the book that when a no-confidence motion was passed against the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee over the pogroms in Gujarat in February 2002, most of the TMC MPs refused to vote in its favour.

She was the only MP of the party who was in support of the motion on moral grounds. She said she was disappointed that she could not convince party supremo Mamata Banerjee on supporting the motion but at the same time, couldn't decide to disobey the party whip either. It was a sad day both as a party member and individual, she said.

The Oppn said Mamata even sent flowers to Modi after he won the 2002 election

The TMC is strongly opposing the BJP and its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi now, saying it is against a 'government which could see more riots' in the country. Mamata Banerjee has been attacking Modi and his party at various rallies, saying there is no possibility of joining the NDA and that she would form a Federal Front comprising non-Congress and non-BJP parties, even exclusing the Left.

But Bose's book has emerged a major embarrassment for the party now. The opposition in West Bengal has also alleged that Banerjee had sent flowers to Modi after he won the 2002 assembly election in Gujarat, which took place months after the riots took place. Why is Banerjee now labelling Modi as a face of riots now, the opposition is asking.

Bose, 83, was a three-time MP from Jadavpur constituency in Kolkata. Bose's son Sugata Bose, a Harvard scholar, is contesting on the TMC's ticket from Jadavpur this time.

Oneindia News