Ravi Shankar Prasad slams Mamata Banerjee on corruption issue

KOLKATA: Attacking Trinamool Congress on the issue of corruption, Union IT and Communications minister Ravi Shankar Prasad today accused party supremo Mamata Banerjee of "patronising corruption".

"Mamata Banerjee had emerged as an icon of probity nad integrity after her movements in Singur, Nandigram. She had become a symbol of honesty. But it is matter of sorrow that after ruling Bengal for five years, which saw scams from Saradha to Narada and syndicated corruption, she has turned from an icon of probity to patron of corruption," Prasad told reporters here.

Prasad also countered Banerjee's claim that she would have "given a thought" before choosing her party candidates for the assembly elections, if the Narada sting operation tapes had been "telecast earlier".

"There is a difference between the Cup and the lip. The Narada sting video came into public long back and there was still lot of time. Madan Mitra is in prison, then why did he get a ticket," Prasad asked.

Banerjee had stated that she was waiting for the report of the (internal) investigation into the sting and said if anyone in the party was found guilty action would be taken.

Turning to the issue of chief secretary giving reply to the Election Commission's showcause notice to Banerjee, Parsad said that it was not at all acceptable.

Banerjee had stated yesterday, "Reply was sought (by EC) from me as Chief Minister. Whether I give the reply or the chief secretary, it was not an issue. If they sought reply from me as Trinamool Congress leader I would have given reply from the party".