Mamata Banerjee asks TMC leaders to launch counter-offensive

KOLKATA: Facing opposition attack over Saradha chit fund scam and Burdwan blast, Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee today asked party leaders to launch a counter-offensive against what she said were canards and malicious campaign.

Banerjee asked party leaders to launch a door-to-door campaign and prepare a booklet to inform the people about attempts being made to link the party with the two issues, a senior party leader quoted her as having told a closed-door party meeting.

"A campaign of canard and misinformation is being carried out against us in a planned way," she told the meeting at her residence, according to the party leader.

"Today names of Mukul (Roy) and Madan (Mitra) are being dragged into disrepute. Tomorrow your names will be dragged. We have not taken any money from Saradha chit fund. Attempts are being made to tarnish the party's image," she is stated to have told the meeting.

The meeting was attended by ministers, MPs, MLAs from Kolkata and adjoining districts and councillors of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, its Mayor and borough chairpersons. Mukul Roy, considered a trusted aide of Banerjee, was present at the meeting.

The senior leader said that Banerjee during her speech referred to steps taken by her government for the return of money to the duped Saradha investors and had also formed a commission for the purpose.

"When did the Saradha scam happen...when the Left was in power. So many other chit fund scams like Sanchayita and Sanchita happened during the Left Front rule. We have not taken any money from Saradha," she told the meeting.

Referring to the Burdwan blast, she hit out at the opposition parties and said, "Trinamool Congress's name is being linked with terrorism. This is a total lie."