West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chairperson Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday avoided any comments on the merits of the Bill scrapping provisions of Article 370 and reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir, but said her party cannot support the manner in which legislation has been brought about.

“I don’t agree with the procedural method. I am not taking about the merits of the Bill. I am talking about the procedural method where my party has taken a strong position,” she told journalists.

Interestingly, Ms Banerjee — till recently the foremost critic of the policies of the BJP — did not comment on whether the government should have consulted people of Jammu and Kashmir before introducing the Bill on Article 370 or about its demerits.

Earlier in the day, Trinamool Congress MPs walked out of the Lok Sabha avoiding any voting in favour of or against the Bill.

“We cannot support this Bill and we cannot vote for it. If we vote, it will be recorded,” the TMC chairperson said. She did not comment on the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir or on scrapping provisions of article 370. She instead said that legislation was not “praiseworthy” or democratic enough. “Constitutionally, legally, technically, it is not praiseworthy,” she said.

Referring to the arrest of former Chief Ministers Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah, she said these leaders were prominent political personalities. “They are not terrorists...They should be released. I request to the government that Kashmiris should not feel isolated.” The Bill should have been discussed in an all-party meeting, she said.

Ms Banerjee left for Chennai to participate in an event where a statue of former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu K. Karunanidhi is to be unveiled.

The visit is on an invitation from DMK leader M.K. Stalin.

Talking to journalists at the Kolkata airport before taking the flight, she said, “ I am going to Chennai because I have given my commitment to Mr. Stalin that I will be present for the inauguration of a statue of Karunanidhi.”