TMC fields law minister to lead anti-CBI protests
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| Bengal law minister Chandrima Bhattacharya accused BJP of using CBI to defame TMC. |
KOLKATA: State law minister Chandrima Bhattacharya led 100-odd Trinamool Mahila Congress supporters in a dharna against CBI on Thursday, disregarding the fact that the central agency is conducting a Supreme Court-mandated probe into the Saradha scam.
This prompted the central agency to seek inputs from the Centre on whether to seek legal recourse. SC's May 9 order clearly said that the state shall "provide the fullest cooperation to CBI... to enable it to conduct and complete the investigation expeditiously." CBI — which depends on the state for manpower and infrastructure — fears the state may derail the probe.
The agency had to postpone questioning of some key persons due to the agitation. Sources say it swiftly sent a report to its Delhi headquarters, with a request to inform the home ministry that the state was refusing to co-operate with the agency despite SC orders. Officially though, CBI denied this. "Not to my knowledge," said CBI chief information officer Kanchan Prasad.
CBI sources in Delhi said the PMO is being kept in the loop about the developments. The agency is even considering moving SC for its directions if the impasse continues. Trinamool leaders — including chief minister Mamata Banerjee — have maintained they will extend their support to an "impartial" probe — the choice of words leaving scope for interpretation.
READ ALSO: Saradha scam: CBI registers 46 cases
Within hours, BJP hit back, threatening to gherao police stations demanding the chief minister's resignation and action against all Saradha-tainted Trinamool leaders.
Trinamool alleges that CBI is being "misused" to settle political scores in the name of the Saradha-probe. In Chandrima's presence, the Mahila brigade raised slogans against the Narendra Modi government, accusing it of using CBI to "defame Trinamool and Mamata". "CBI is trying to change the proper course of the Saradha scam probe. It is working to the dictates of BJP and is being used to protect the interests of the Modi government. CBI is acting like a political party." Chandrima alleged.
BJP hit back. "The Saradha scam has affected no less than 85 lakh people statewide. We want the truth to be unearthed and the guilty punished — however high and mighty they may be," BJP national-secretary Sidharth Nath Singh said. "From Friday, the party's state unit will gherao all police stations in Bengal (excluding those in Chowringhee and Dakshin Bashirhat). This will be the first step towards a bigger and stronger andolan over the Saradha chit fund scam. We will submit a memorandum to Governor Keshrinath Tripathi and protesters will do so at police stations. We demand the chief minister's resignation," he added.
READ ALSO: In Kolkata, Amit Shah attacks Mamata Banerjee over Saradha scam, says time's up for Trinamool
Singh took potshots at Chandrima (also the health minister), saying: "Since Trinamool MPs and leaders are falling sick following (CBI) interrogation, it is natural that the health minister should be there." Then, he aimed one at Mamata: "In 2001, she resigned from NDA after a Tehelka expose, claiming the moral high ground. Now her party leaders, their aides, ministers and MPs are either being questioned or arrested, where is the morality now?"
Pradesh Congress president Adhir Chowdhury also criticized Chandrima. "The state law minister used to speak against the chief minister earlier (when she headed the Pradesh Congress legal cell). It's Trinamool's bankruptcy that Mamata Banerjee had to task Chandrima Bhattacharya to defend her."
Trinamool secretary-general Partha Chatterjee defended Mamata, saying: "Opposition parties are trying to join forces and are making wild allegations to keep the main culprits behind curtains. It was Mamata Banerjee who got the main accused arrested and her government has been trying to give back money to the investors."
This prompted the central agency to seek inputs from the Centre on whether to seek legal recourse. SC's May 9 order clearly said that the state shall "provide the fullest cooperation to CBI... to enable it to conduct and complete the investigation expeditiously." CBI — which depends on the state for manpower and infrastructure — fears the state may derail the probe.
The agency had to postpone questioning of some key persons due to the agitation. Sources say it swiftly sent a report to its Delhi headquarters, with a request to inform the home ministry that the state was refusing to co-operate with the agency despite SC orders. Officially though, CBI denied this. "Not to my knowledge," said CBI chief information officer Kanchan Prasad.
CBI sources in Delhi said the PMO is being kept in the loop about the developments. The agency is even considering moving SC for its directions if the impasse continues. Trinamool leaders — including chief minister Mamata Banerjee — have maintained they will extend their support to an "impartial" probe — the choice of words leaving scope for interpretation.
READ ALSO: Saradha scam: CBI registers 46 cases
Within hours, BJP hit back, threatening to gherao police stations demanding the chief minister's resignation and action against all Saradha-tainted Trinamool leaders.
Trinamool alleges that CBI is being "misused" to settle political scores in the name of the Saradha-probe. In Chandrima's presence, the Mahila brigade raised slogans against the Narendra Modi government, accusing it of using CBI to "defame Trinamool and Mamata". "CBI is trying to change the proper course of the Saradha scam probe. It is working to the dictates of BJP and is being used to protect the interests of the Modi government. CBI is acting like a political party." Chandrima alleged.
BJP hit back. "The Saradha scam has affected no less than 85 lakh people statewide. We want the truth to be unearthed and the guilty punished — however high and mighty they may be," BJP national-secretary Sidharth Nath Singh said. "From Friday, the party's state unit will gherao all police stations in Bengal (excluding those in Chowringhee and Dakshin Bashirhat). This will be the first step towards a bigger and stronger andolan over the Saradha chit fund scam. We will submit a memorandum to Governor Keshrinath Tripathi and protesters will do so at police stations. We demand the chief minister's resignation," he added.
READ ALSO: In Kolkata, Amit Shah attacks Mamata Banerjee over Saradha scam, says time's up for Trinamool
Singh took potshots at Chandrima (also the health minister), saying: "Since Trinamool MPs and leaders are falling sick following (CBI) interrogation, it is natural that the health minister should be there." Then, he aimed one at Mamata: "In 2001, she resigned from NDA after a Tehelka expose, claiming the moral high ground. Now her party leaders, their aides, ministers and MPs are either being questioned or arrested, where is the morality now?"
Pradesh Congress president Adhir Chowdhury also criticized Chandrima. "The state law minister used to speak against the chief minister earlier (when she headed the Pradesh Congress legal cell). It's Trinamool's bankruptcy that Mamata Banerjee had to task Chandrima Bhattacharya to defend her."
Trinamool secretary-general Partha Chatterjee defended Mamata, saying: "Opposition parties are trying to join forces and are making wild allegations to keep the main culprits behind curtains. It was Mamata Banerjee who got the main accused arrested and her government has been trying to give back money to the investors."
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