West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee today accused the BJP of "trying to play politics" over the denial of permissions to hold events at state government-owned venues.
"These days, some people have no work apart from doing drama and spreading canards. They (BJP) deliberately tried to book the (Netaji Indoor) stadium for a day, knowing it very well that it had already been booked on that date.
"Now, they are crying that they were not given the booking. When it is already booked, how can you act so irresponsibly," she said without naming the BJP.
Banerjee was addressing the annual programme of the West Bengal Government Employees' Federation in the city.
The chief minister said she too was denied permission to hold today's event at the Netaji Indoor Stadium and had to rearrange the progamme at the much smaller Nazrul Mancha.
"We had asked for the Netaji Indoor Stadium, but it was already booked. I follow certain ethics and thus, did not get the booking cancelled and hamper someone's pre-planned programme. You can see so many people sitting on the floor due to the lack of space at Nazrul Mancha. I could have taken the Netaji Indoor Stadium, but why should I violate the law?
"But I am not crying and making allegations. If we can adjust, why can't they (BJP)? The Centre is directly sponsoring and promoting hatred against us," she alleged.
"Every year, before your annual programme, book the Netaji Indoor Stadium well in advance, so that you do not have to face any problem," Banerjee said.
Incidentally, the RSS had tried to book the Mahajati Sadan for a programme, to be addressed by its chief Mohan Bhagwat on October 3, while the BJP had allegedly requested for the Netaji Indoor Stadium for a programme to be presided over by party president Amit Shah next week.
In both the cases, the permission was denied by the authorities of the respective venues.
The TMC had claimed that it had nothing to do with the denial of permissions.
Shah is scheduled to be on a three-day visit to West Bengal from September 11-13.
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