Army Exercise Routine, Political Frustration Behind Mamata Banerjee’s Allegation: Manohar Parrikar

Defence Minister Manohar Parikkar said on Friday that the army was conducting a routine exercise in West Bengal and the northeastern states and also rejected the allegations levelled by TMC that the state government was not informed about it.

"It is saddening that a routine exercise has been made a controversy now. It is wrong to politicise it. This is politics in frustration rather than correct aspect being pointed out," Parikkar said.

Earlier, raising the matter during question hour, TMC leader Sudip Bandopadhyay had said that the army deployment was done by keeping the state government in dark. He said that army was deployed along a highway toll plaza, which is at the second Hooghly Bridge and about 500 metres from the secretariat. "The Chief Minister is still sitting on dharna inside the secretariat demanding immediate withdrawal of the army," he added.

Meanwhile, the Indian Army has produced the letters that were sent to West Bengal government, informing relevant departments and senior officials about the exercise.