Congress today sought to downplay Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee's remarks on alliance, saying she was only raising the issue of misuse of central forces in West Bengal, which she has the right to do.

"What she might have said is about the misuse of the central forces there, with which we are also equally concerned....She has never said that she would quit on that issue," party in-charge for West Bengal affairs K Keshava Rao said.

The senior Congress leader stressed "she has never said she would quit, she has never given any threat...there is no question of rift between us (Congress and Trinamool Congress).

Rao's remarks came on Banerjee's comments last night on alliance with Congress that she had not said that her party would contest the West Bengal Assembly elections on its own, but it was for the ally to decide.

She had also said that she was ready to quit if she cannot prove that the CPI(M) was misusing central security forces brought for anti-Maoist operations in West Bengal.

"The CPI(M) is misusing central forces. I would have nothing to say if the central forces were used against Maoists. If I cannot prove that the central forces are being misused by the CPI(M), I am ready to quit. Will the CPI(M) government also do so?" the Trinamool Congress chief had said.

Banerjee said that she had met Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and apprised them about the CPI(M)'s "terror tactics".

Agreeing with Mamata's contention on the misuse of central forces in the CPI-M ruled West Bengal, the Congress leader said, "They are being misused. So everybody has the right to talk about the misuse of central forces. She might have spoken more emphatically about her concern."