Congress downplays Mamata's comment on Azad's encounter

Congress today downplayed its ally Mamata Banerjee describing the encounter of Maoist leader Azad as a "murder" saying if allegations have been made, there are institutions to deal with it.

"Congress never supported fake encounters. We make clear distinction between encounter and fake encounter. If allegations have been made, there are institutions like the NHRC and the courts which have a specific mandate to deal with such issues," party spokesperson Manish Tewari told reporters.

Asked about the Trinamool Congress chief allegedly hobnobbing with the Maoists in the Lalgarh rally, Tewari said every political party has a right to carry out its activities in a democratic manner.

"We should not be misled by false propaganda. If Mamata Banerjee has gone to Lalgarh, she has said that she was opposed to violence," the spokesperson added.

To a query on the party's position on the encounter of Azad in Andhra Pradesh, Tewari said it was not the job of the party to give certificates on police or administrative action.

On the presence of Maoists in Lalgarh, he asked if at all Naxals accused of various crimes were there, what prevented the West Bengal police from arresting them.

"If the West Bengal government was serious about fighting Maoism, they should have arrested them," he said.

Downplying the presence of Maoists, Tewari said it was a public rally and no invitations were sent and anybody could have gone there to attend it.

Tewari also criticised attempts to score political points on the issue.

The issue figured in both Houses of Parliament with the Rajya Sabha being adjourned for an hour following an uproar over it.