Kolkata:
Union minister Mamata Banerjee's remarks questioning the circumstances of Maoist leader Azad's death and her subsequent insistence that she stands by those remarks created an absolute furore in Parliament.
But now, one of Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's own ministers seems to be echoing Mamata's question.
In what can only be a huge embarrassment for the Left front in West Bengal, PWD Minister Kshiti Goswami said, "Azad was called for talks and killed - that is the allegation. Given the allegation we are also raising questions. We have been told that there will be inquiry and truth will come out. We don't know at what law the inquiry will be held under but we are also raising question."
Further, stressing upon the demand for an inquiry into Azad's killing, Goswami added, "If he had not been called for talk he wouldn't have come so far...as he was reaching he died. There should be an inquiry and the truth needs to come out. The fact is the man has died."
For the Left front which is twisting its arm to compete with Mamata in the upcoming polls, a statement of this nature, coming from a cabinet minister, can only spew more trouble.