Kolkata, Jan 13 (IANS) A day after the Congress high command asked its Bengal unit to cool down tempers against ally Trinamool, senior Congress leader and union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee Friday indicated that the state unit should heed the order.

“Congress leader Shakeel Ahmed (in charge of West Bengal unit) has already given his statement on the issue of Indira Bhawan and the relation between state Congress leadership and Trinamool. I think that statement is enough,” said Mukherjee while talking to reporters in Kolkata.

Asked to comment about the ongoing incidents of principals being assaulted by students at various educational institutions across the state, Mukherjee said: “I have nothing to comment on this issue because this is a state subject and it is for them to look into the matter.”

Although Mukherjee declined to comment, the state Congress leadership has staged protests and vehemently criticised the incidents of campus violence. They have called for strict action from the administration to avert such incidents.

On Thursday, the Congress high command asked the state party to refrain from using harsh words against Trinamool and also appealed to the ally to do likewise.

In order to find a solution to the ongoing tussle, the central leadership will discuss the issue on Jan 16 with state Congress committee chief Pradeep Bhattacharya and former PCC chief Manas Bhuiyan, a minister in the Mamata Banerjee government, said sources.

Stating that the Congress would like to keep the alliance, Congress sources said the recent flashpoints like renaming the Indira Bhavan in Kolkata, paddy procurement or attack on college principals, are all local issues, and efforts were on to convince the TMC leaders not to let these escalate.