Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee mocks Mamata Banerjee for praising Narendra Modi

Mocking BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi's praise for West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, CPI(M) Politburo member Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Saturday sarcastically said "only a gem can identify another gem".

"Only a gem can identify another gem. He (Modi) has identified the right person," Bhattacharjee, who is also the former chief minister of Bengal, said at a party rally in North 24 Paraganas district.

Left parties led by the CPI(M) are known Modi bashers.

In a rally in Uttar Pradesh on Friday, Modi had lauded Banerjee for her fight against the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre.

"Mamata didi fights against Delhi for Bengal, for the rights of the people of the state," Modi had said.

The Trinamool Congress leadership, however denied to read too much in Modi's statement.

"We don't know what someone has said. Our leader Mamata Banerjee is fighting for the people of Bengal, for the development of the state. We don't need anyone's certificate," said Trinamool Congress general secretary Mukul Roy.

State urban development minister Firhad Hakim slammed Bhattacharjee for his verbal attack on Banerjee and said the unholy nexus of Congress, BJP and CPI(M) in the state are trying to pursue communal policies.

"We all know about the mentality of Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. The unholy nexus of Congress, BJP and CPI(M) in the state are trying to pursue communal policies in the state and to destroy peace and harmony in Bengal," Hakim said.