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| Edited By: DNA Web Team |Source: DNA webdesk |Updated: Dec 02, 2016, 09:17 PM IST
Presence of army personnel at toll plazas in West Bengal triggered a row with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee remaining at the state secretariat overnight in protest, asking was it an "army coup", drawing a stinging condemnation today from the Centre which said the remark showed her "political frustration".
The row also echoed in Parliament with Trinamool Congress seeing "sinister" designs behind the move and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar vehemently denying the charge, saying it was a routine exercise. Parrikar also said it was very unfortunate that army has been dragged into an "unnecessary controversy".
The Army on its part strongly rebutted Banerjee's allegations that its personnel were deployed at toll plazas without informing the state government and were collecting money, saying the exercise was being carried out in coordination with Kolkata Police. The Army personnel, however, had left the toll plaza near the secretariat last night.
TMC MLAs and ministers also staged a dharna outside Raj Bhavan in Kolkata.
Banerjee left the state secretariat in the evening after she spent over 24 hours and fired a fresh salvo at the Modi government.
Accusing the Modi government of making a "wrong and concocted" statement in Parliament regarding the deployment of Army, Banerjee said her voice could not be stifled by "hatching conspiracy and showing force".
Banerjee also said the state government will take legal recourse if there is no withdrawal of army personnel from all toll plazas in the state.
Speaking to reporters late last night at 'Nabanna', the state secretariat in Kolkata, she said, "I will stay at the secretariat to guard our democracy".
"Is this a military coup?" she asked. She said that army personnel were there in different districts like Murshidabad, Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling, North 24 Paragans, Burdwan, Howrah, Hooghly etc.
"The army is deployed without informing the state government. This is unprecedented and a very serious matter." The issue was raised in both Houses of Parliament with main opposition Congress too seeking clarification on the army deployment at 19 toll plazas in West Bengal.
In Lok Sabha, Parrikar termed the deployment a "routine exercise not unique to West Bengal" and saying similar operations to collect information on heavy vehicle movement that can be used during national emergencies had last month being conducted in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand.
Along with West Bengal, similar exercise was carried out
in Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura, Meghalaya and Mizoram, Parrikar said while responding to TMC and Congress MPs.
He also stated that originally the exercise was planned for November 28-30 but was shifted to December 1 and 2 at the request of Kolkata Police as those dates were clashing with the protests against demonetisation.
"It is shocking that a Chief Minister is saying this. The Army's deployment was part of routine exercise which has been going on for several years, which has been going on for last 15-20 years. Even last year it was held on November 19 to 21." "Concerned officials were informed in West Bengal. The original date was fixed for November 28 to 30 but due to Bharat Bandh the local police had advised the army to shift it to December 1 and 2," he said. "Due to traffic congestion, the exercise is being done with the help of local police." TMC leaders in both Houses alleged that neither the state government, nor local administration including police were taken into confidence on the exercise or their permission sought.
Congress and BSP too wanted to know from the government how such an unprecedented move to carry out an army exercise without taking state government into confidence was done.
"It was very unfortunate that army has been dragged into an unnecessary controversy," Parrikar said. "It was political frustration rather than projection of correct situation." The Army also released letters written to the West Bengal government on the exercise.
"It is happening in nine states now across 80 locations," GOC Bengal area (officiating) Maj Gen Sunil Yadav said.
Reacting to Chief Minister's allegations on collection of money, he said, "We deny all charges with all contempt." "Allegations of collection of money by Army personnel are also totally baseless," he added.
Army sticks to its guns
With West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee threatening to adopt legal course against the Centre for deploying armed forces without informing the state administration, the Indian Army on Friday stood firm and said that it would not call off its troops and the routine drill exercise will resume till mid night today.
Responding to a poser whether the West Bengal government, if required, is ready to take legal action against central government to which Mamata said, ‘Action has already been initiated.’
Later, Wing Commender S.S. Birdi, Chief Public Relations Office (CRPO) of the eastern command told ANI that the army won’t be called off until the exercise concludes.
‘Army will not be called off and routine excise will continue till mid night today. As today is the last and third day,’ Birdi said.
Upon being asked whether the deployment details about the army would be disclosed, Birdi said, ‘We can't disclose the army deployment details as of now but army will not be called off.’
Birdi’s comment came in response after Trinamool Congress spokesperson Derek O'Brien asserted that no such document existed, and added that he would hang his head in shame if the government could prove him otherwise.
"It's on open challenge. Has the state government of West Bengal given permission to the government of India to deploy the Army’ There is no such letter of permission. In fact the MoS Defence has laid on the table of the Rajya Sabha that the Kolkata police refused to give permission. I challenge you to show me a document where the state government has given the permission," he said.
However, the Army letters show that it was in communication with the West Bengal police on the annual exercise to "gather statistical data about load carriers that could be made available to the army in case of a contingency."
With inputs from agencies
