In a warm gesture of goodwill between political foes, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday told veteran Left leader Ashok Ghosh that he had the “right” to point out her mistakes, while the latter described the Trinamool Congress chief as his “younger sister”.
During a visit to the office of Left Front partner All India Forward Bloc to congratulate Ghosh on his birthday last week, Mamata also said that politics does not mean abusing power but working for the masses.
“Give us advice. If you see us making a mistake somewhere, I give you the right to point it out,” he said after greeting Ghosh, 94, with flowers and sweets and wishing him a healthy life.
Mamata added, “I am here on a courtesy call as I could not go and congratulate him on his birthday earlier this month. I had decided that when I returned to Kolkata, I would go and visit him. I had spoken to him on his birthday.”
Mamata, who praised Ghosh, said in his presence: “Ashokda belongs to that kind of political leaders who have dedicated their lives for the masses. Leaders like him are examples. Instead of leading a luxurious life, they have toiled and suffered hardships to work for the masses.”
The Prime Minister said she shares the lifestyle of several left-wing leaders who believed in simple living and working for the masses.
He added: “Politics does not mean misusing power, but working for the masses and fulfilling commitments. Politics means that what you say on the first day you should also follow on the 100th day.”
Ghosh said: “We all want to follow the ideology of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in our work. Mamata Banerjee also follows that ideology. She is like my younger sister.”
First uploaded on: 10-07-2015 at 00:00 IST
