Soldiers at WB toll booths: Mamata leaves secretariat, vows to take up legal battle

The standoff between West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and the Centre over army’s presence at toll booths in the state continued for the second straight day on Friday with the latter now vowing to fight the matter legally.

Banerjee, who was camping at the state secretariat to protest the deployment of soldiers at toll plazas, alleged the army is being used for political vendetta. In the evening, the chief minister left the office at around 6.30pm.

 “If government doesn't withdraw army deployed in the state, we will fight legally. I have great respect for the army but why are they being used for political vendetta? This is wrong,” ANI quoted Mamata as saying.

#WATCH Kolkata: WB CM Mamata Banerjee, who was in her office in state Secretariat since 9 PM y'day monitoring situation, now leaves building pic.twitter.com/aPS13f8x2P

— ANI (@ANI_news) December 2, 2016

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However, army’s eastern command maintained that it is a routine exercise that will continue till midnight on Friday.

“Army deployment (in West Bengal) won't be called off. Routine exercise will continue till midnight today,” Eastern Command CPRO Wing Commander SS Birdi said.

Read | TMC MLAs stage dharna at Raj Bhavan demanding withdrawal of soldiers from toll booths