Mamata Banerjee said, "There have been no political murders in Bengal... So, I am sorry, Narendra Modi Ji, this has compelled me not to attend the ceremony."
New Delhi: In a fresh bid to politicise the Prime Minister's swearing-in ceremony on Thursday, Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has refused to join the event.
Banerjee made this 180-degree u-turn after reports surfaced that more than 50 BJP cadre, whose families were allegedly killed in political violence in Bengal, have been invited.
Also read: Modi’s swearing-in ceremony: BJP invites families of people allegedly murdered by Trinamool
According to the reports, people from Purulia to Medinipur, Malda to Bankura are on the guest list of that high profile event. In fact, not only victims of political violence during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections but also families of those who lost their lives in the Panchayat election will be present.
Mamata in a tweet has said on Wednesday that BJP's claim of political deaths in Bengal is untrue. "There have been no political murders in Bengal... So, I am sorry, Narendra Modi Ji, this has compelled me not to attend the ceremony", said Mamata.
The oath-taking ceremony is an august occasion to celebrate democracy, not one that should be devalued by any political party pic.twitter.com/Mznq0xN11Q
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) May 29, 2019
Earlier on Tuesday, she said, "It's a constitutional ceremony and hence courtesy demands that chief ministers should attend it if invited".
Last Updated May 29, 2019, 3:07 PM IST