Congress slams TMC, says it can go alone in Bengal

Kolkata: Alleging that alliance partner Trinamool Congress was trying to politically finish off the Congress in West Bengal, the party's state unit on Wednesday said it was capable of fighting elections alone.

"We are capable of fighting (elections) and going alone in the state. We are not weak... Nobody should dare to politically write off Congress. We are still a formidable and decisive force in the state," said Pradip Bhattacharya, president of the state Congress.

Congress MP Deepa Dasmunsi also criticised the West Bengal government for providing financial compensation to rape victims and called it a matter of "national shame".

"The state government is planning to compensate rape victims with money. This announcement is a national shame," said Dasmunsi.