Live: Mamata slams Narendra Modi, downplays Anna's absence at Delhi rally

New Delhi: Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare today skipped a rally addressed here by TMC chief Mamata Bannerjee who attacked Narendra Modi and ruled out support to either Congress or BJP after the Lok Sabha polls.What was billed to be a platform to launch Bannerjee's national ambitions with Hazare on the dais turned out to be just a Trinamool Congress rally.No reason was given for the absence of Hazare, who arrived here only last night ostensibly to attend the rally, but sources said he was unwell.Hazare, who has expressed his support to Trinamool Congress and Bannerjee brushing aside his protege Arvind Kejriwal's party, had earlier in the day said he would attend the rally.Significantly, an Imam of Kolkata had issued a threat that he would withdraw support to Bannerjee if she shares dais with Hazare. Later, TMC leader Mukul Roy went to Maharashtra Sadan here and met Hazare.At the thinly-attended rally in Ramlila ground, Banerjee targetted both Congress and BJP besides arch-rivals Left parties.She singled out Modi without naming him saying the "leader of Gujarat" is "communal" and rubbished his claim about development in the state under his leadership."The BJP says it will come top power. But I ask how will it come to power. The face of Gujarat is communal. Not the people but the leader of Gujarat is communal," she said.Ruling out support to either BJP or Congress, she said the two parties "form a syndicate for selling the country. They can come together and CPI(M) also has an understanding with these parties. We will not support the Congress, BJP or the CPI(M) and not even support anyone who has been with them."On the absence of Hazare, Mamata later told reporters, "It was not a political meeting. It was a social meeting. He was invited. I made the commitment to come here and I came."She further said that she came to the rally to keep her promise, but she did not have any idea why Hazare did not come to the rally."It was his rally. I had come here at his request. I do not know why he did not come. I have no idea," she said.Dodging questions on Hazare's absence, she said," I have respect for Annaji. He is a a senior person. I respect his desire."On the poor turnout at the Ramlila ground, she said, "People in this ground are brought from outside. We could also have done the same. But, this is election time."Replying to a question, she said, "TMC is fighting the battle alone and it will continue to do so. In panchayat election also, we contested alone. We will also fight in Gujarat, Assam, Tripura, Jharkhand, Arunachal Pradesh."The rally, which started after a long delay, was attended by yesteryear cine star Biswajeet. Palamu MP Kameshwar Baitha formally joined the party.Mamata said at the rally that Biswajeet would contest the Lok Sabha election.She said, "There were rains yesterday but still people came for the rally. Even these ten people will grow to 10 lakh."Taking a dig at Modi she said the infant mortality rate is less in Bengal than Gujarat. While the national average is 44, in Gujarat it is 41 but in West Bengal it is 32, she said.She also claimed the GDP rate in Bengal is better than the country's growth of eceonomy rate. "The country's GDP is 4.9 per cent, ours is 7.71 per cent despite the huge debt incurred by the Left Front government."The West Bengal Chief Minister also claimed that she faces threat to her life from rival parties including the CPI(M), BJP and Congress but "nobody can suppress me".She alleged that good people were not allowed to take part in politics and targeted through the CBI, ED or the Income Tax departments.In an apparent reference to the AAP government in Delhi, she said her party gave free water to the common public and did not just subsidise it.Here are the live updates: 2:50pm: Mamata ends her speech by thanking all the people who had managed to arrive at the Ramlila Maidan despite the rain and inconvenient circumstances.2:47pm: Mamata- I started my work from Bengal but I am a part of every state of India and will try to reach out to the masses. 2:44pm: Mamata- CPM, BJP and Congress have often tried to suppress me, but I cannot be suppressed. Our country is run by fundamentalists. 2:43pm: Mamata- I have no family of my own. My family is my people.2:40pm: Mamata - Do you want them to to sell the nation or save it from parties like BJP and Congress?2:37pm: Mamata- TMC fulfills all the promises and commitments that it gives to people. 2:36pm: Mamata- If you talk about development model then West Bengal model is better than Gujarat model.2:32pm: Mamata- I don't want anything – But people need to contemplate over the typical parties that they vote for. 2:30pm: Mamata- BJP and Congress have sold out the country.Country is being run by congress and BJP syndicate , I will not support these two parties 2:27pm: Mamata accuses BJP, Congress and CPM of wasting thousands of rupees on liquor. 2: 25pm: Mamata : Child death ratio in Gujarat is 41% as compared to 32% in Bengal. Child school drop out ratio is also higher in Gujarat.2:24pm: Mamata: Gujarat has financial resources but its leaders have a communal face.2:22pm: Mamata- Very few people have come here to attend the rally but I am not worried. I could have brought in people from West Bengal but I decided against it. I am here just to convey a message. We'll do rallies all across the country, from Gujarat and UP to Bihar and Tripura .2: 15pm: Mamata begins her speech by greeting the gathering at Ramlila Maidan 1:56pm – Mamata Banerjee reaches rally venue. Anna Hazare reportedly unwell, may not attend rally.1:09pm – Only 2000 people assembled at Ramleela maidan. Unhappy with the turn out, Mamata Banerjee avoids reaching the rally venue11:15am - Anna Hazare says it's a serious matter that leaders of AAP are not happy with decisions being taken in the party.8 am: Elaborate security arrangements at Ram Lila Maidan. Vinod Kumar Binny has asked his followers from Lakshmi Nagar, East Delhi, to reach the meeting in large numbers. Binny says, Annaji is our idol, and it would be premature to say if he will join Trinamool Congress or not. "But I will follow Annaji's orders". Trinamool Congress leader Mukul Roy, Mamata's confidante, says: "Binny is a promising leader. Whether he will contest on TMC ticket or not will be decided by Annaji and Mamataji."