Mamata refuses to comment on Anna seeking her support (Lead)
December 15th, 2011 - 12:50 am ICT by IANS
Kolkata, Dec 14 (IANS) Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare Wednesday sought Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee’s help for a strong Lokpal bill, but the West Bengal chief minister refused to comment on his request, saying tactfully that Hazare was a “big personality”.
“He is a great man, a great personality. How can I comment about him? I do not know if he has sought support from us. I am busy with Bengal, there are other leaders like Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi in our party to look into that,” said Banerjee when asked to comment on the matter during a television interview.
Hailing Banerjee for her tough stand on FDI in retail trade that forced the government to put it on hold, Hazare Wednesday had said in New Delhi: “I request her to take up the issue of a strong Lokpal bill.”
“She has done a wonderful thing in case of FDI for the country. Her decision protected many small traders.
“Our request is that the country, which is facing such a huge threat of corruption, should get Lokpal that may eradicate 60-70 percent of the menace if not 100 percent.
“Our request to ‘behen’ (sister) Mamata is that you should put a good word forward for Lokpal so that corruption is eradicated to some extent,” Hazare said.
The social activist who had held a daylong fast Sunday has found backing from leaders of several parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Communists, the Janata Dal-United, Biju Janata Dal and Telugu Desam Party.
- Hazare seeks Mamata's help for Lokpal (Lead) - Dec 14, 2011
- BSP backs Anna, Lokpal heat is on government (Roundup) - Dec 13, 2011
- Citizen's charter should be under Lokpal: Anna Hazare - Dec 14, 2011
- Quotable quotes on Lokpal - Dec 11, 2011
- Anna set for fast, politicians hit back (Evening Lead) - Dec 26, 2011
- Mamata echoes 'honest' PM on Hazare fast - Aug 23, 2011
- PM dials, but Mamata says a firm 'no' on FDI - Dec 02, 2011
- Team Anna seek to meet three women chief ministers - Jul 02, 2011
- Only one Mahatma for India, no one crusader against corruption: CPI (Second Lead) - Dec 22, 2011
- Politicians to blame for parliament paralysis: BJD - Dec 11, 2011
- Anna's protest may be shifted to Mumbai: Kejriwal - Dec 14, 2011
- Lokpal bill alone can't end corruption: Rahul Gandhi - Aug 26, 2011
- Open to discussions on Lokpal, says PM as Hazare fast continues (Afternoon Lead) - Aug 20, 2011
- Lokpal Bill: Who said what - Dec 22, 2011
- If Congress wants, they can leave: Mamata (Lead) - Jan 07, 2012
Tags: anna hazare, bharatiya janata party, biju, chief minister, daylong, dinesh, fdi, good word, great man, great personality, mamata banerjee, railway minister, retail trade, small traders, social activist, television interview, telugu desam party, trinamool congress chief, trivedi, west bengal