Cong angry at Mamata's absence at PM's programme

The Congress on Saturday expressed anguish at Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee's absence in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's engagements at the Science City in Kolkata and described her public outbursts against United Progressive Alliance government's policies as 'an embarrassment'.

"It is sheer embarrassment for the Congress party when a major ally of the UPA government, particularly its seven ministers in the Union ministry, criticises central government policies in public and it is regrettable that the railway minister stays away from the prime minister's function," a 37-member West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee delegation told Dr Singh at Raj Bhavan.

State Congress legislature party leader Manas Bhuniya told PTI that the delegation, during its 45-minute audience with the prime minister, pointed out it was unfortunate that the railway minister preferred to 'stay away' from his programmes in the city and even decided not to meet him.

"It is ridiculous that seven ministers in the Union ministry have been publicly vocal against the UPA government," Bhuniya said.

Bhuniya said the prime minister had heard them (the delegation) with rapt attention, but refrained from commenting.

Banerjee was earlier reported to have decided to stay away from any programme of the prime minister "which is attended by Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee". Neither Banerjee nor any of her party leaders were available for comment.

The PCC delegation, which included two working presidents Pradip Bhattacharya and Subrata Mukherjee, told Dr Singh that the WBPCC had expected Banerjee to meet him while he was in the city. "Instead, Banerjee busies herself with party programmes," the delegation members said.

The Trinamool Congress chief today led a procession of her party workers and sympathisers in the metropolis from S C Mullick Square in the south to Esplanade in the heart of the city to protest issues like price rise and law and order problems in Left-Front ruled West Bengal.