Modi attacks Mamata over rant against poll panel

Krishnanagar (West Bengal), April 17 (IANS) Ridiculing West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her rant against the Election Commission (EC), Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday also accused her of misusing the state machinery.

"On the brink of defeat, the Trinamool has lost its senses, Mamata and her party have accepted defeat and that is why she is not fighting with political parties, but rather with the EC," Modi said here canvassing for the state assembly polls.

"Polls will come and go, but if these institutions are destroyed, the country will not be able to be run. The EC gave notice to you and it was your responsibility to put forth your stand, your views but instead you are saying, you will see the EC after May 19 (day of counting)," he said.

He was referring to Banerjee's April 14 outburst against the poll panel after getting a show-cause notice for violation of model code of conduct.

Slamming Banerjee for "trying to destroy" an independent institution like the EC, Modi said: "The country runs on laws and rules and if you want disobey them, then clarify before the people whether you have faith in democracy or not, whether you have faith in the country's constitution or nor not."

Pointing to the allegations that the notice to Banerjee was replied to by the state chief secretary, Modi charged her with misusing the state machinery.

"I read somewhere that the reply to Banerjee's notice has been given by the chief secretary. If this is true then this is the biggest flouting of poll rules. The EC notice was sent to the Trinamool chief and not the chef minister. It was the responsibility of Didi or her party or her party's lawyer to reply," he said.

"I don't know if he (chief secretary) has done that, I've heard on my way about it. But if it has happened, then it is blatant misuse of the government. Didi, Indira Gandhi lost her membership for six years for misusing the government," said Modi referring to the Allahabad High Court's decision barring then prime minister Gandhi from holding elected office for six years in 1975.

He also attacked the Trinamool over corruption issues and ridiculed the Congress-Left Front tie-up.