Not going soft on Narendra Modi, asserts Trinamool

Kolkata, March 15 (IANS) The Trinamool Congress Saturday rubbished speculations that it was going soft on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi, asserting it was against communalism.

"Our fight is against corruption of Congress and communalism of the BJP. Our chairperson (Mamata Banerjee) repeatedly has said we do not support the face of riots," party national general secretary Mukul Roy told media persons while responding to queries if the Trinamool was going soft on Modi.

Following the Trinamool tying up with social activist Anna Hazare, prominent Muslim clerics had warned against the alliance claiming that the Gandhian had links with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

Roy meanwhile urged the Election Commission (EC) to look into the alleged distribution of cash by BJP candidate for Birbhum Lok Sabha seat, Joy Banerjee.

"It is a violation of the Model Code of Conduct. We have already lodged a complaint with the EC and want it to take strong action," he said.

Banerjee Friday was caught on tape allegedly distributing money during his poll campaign. The candidate and his party denied the allegation.

Meanwhile continuing the surge of defection, a group of leaders from the Communist Party of India-Marxist and the Congress joined the Trinamool. The new joinees include two councilors of Bhadreshwar Municipality in Hooghly district.