NEW DELHI — Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare on Wednesday skipped a planned rally with Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Bannerjee. What was billed to be a platform to launch Bannerjee's national ambitions with Hazare on the dais turned out to be just a TMC rally. No reason was given for the absence of Hazare, who arrived here only on Wednesday night ostensibly to attend the rally, but sources said he was unwell. Hazard, who has expressed his support to TMC 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.
