Mamata dares Opposition to prove charges

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today challenged the Opposition to prove its allegation that she had taken money from the sale of her paintings.
The chief minister said she would resign "tomorrow" if it was proved that a single paisa from the proceeds of the sale of her paintings had been transferred to her account.
"I will paint again. I have done no wrong. Don't question my intergrity. If you can prove that a single penny has been transferred to my account from the sale of my paintings, I will resign tomorrow. Please don't question about my paintings," Banerjee told the Assembly during her reply on the Governor's address to the House.

"I spend the entire amount earned from the sale of my paintings for running the party. What is wrong in it? I have given several of my paintings free of cost," she said in reply to the Left parties' charges of irregularities in the sale of her paintings.
Affirming that no one in her party was involved in the chit fund scam, Banerjee requested Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee to allow a discussion on chit funds which flourished in West Bengal since early 80's.
"I think there should be a concrete discussion on it and the people should know it. I would like to reiterate that none from my party is involved in the chit fund (scam). We don't need the money of chit fund companies to run the party," she told the House.

Banerjee also sought to know why a PIL was filed in the Supreme Court on chit fund business only after 2009.
"I have full respect and full faith on our Judiciary and Supreme Court. But I have a question why two political individuals have filed PIL in the Supreme Court only on chit fund business after 2009," she said pointing out that the businesses flourished in the state under the Left's rule.