Mamata finds excuse for no show in Parliament

Kolkata: Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, who is under attack from Left parties for her poor attendance in the outgoing Lok Sabha, on Sunday said she was humiliated in the House as she was the only member of her party.

"I was humiliated in the Lok Sabha. I was not allowed to speak, as I was the lone representative of my party. I complained so many times but they didn't allow me to speak in the House," said Banerjee, who is among the 56 MPs who never asked a question in the House.

"I repeatedly told them that I am a senior MP, but they didn't allow me to speak. I complained this at least 200 times," she added.

Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) politburo member Biman Bose Saturday said: "She (Banerjee) never attended zero hour or question hour. An MP is expected to attend Parliament, ask questions and raise issues which are in people's interest. But she did not do it. She chose to remain absent from the Lok Sabha during most of its sittings," Bose had said.

But Banerjee said she never signed the attendance register on days she felt she had not done substantial work.

"There are MPs who record their attendance to claim the allowances. But I did not sign on days I felt I had not done substantial work," she said.

Besides, Banerjee said for the last three years she was busy with the movements in Singur and Nandigram in the state against land acquisition for industry.

"In these past few years, we fought against money power and muscle power of the CPI-M-led ruling Left Front government. Tell me, what is more important to us - attending parliament sessions or to fight against the rulers who are torturing common people of the state?"

Calling the CPI-M MPs "unethical", Banerjee said she was the only member in the Lok Sabha who never travelled by executive class in flights since 1991.

Confident of favourable results in this general election, she said: "The ruling CPI-M fears peaceful election. Thus, they are creating trouble in different regions in the post-poll period. We're sure where people have voted freely, our candidates will win in those seats."