West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee unleashed a barrage of criticism on the Central government for its role in the ED and CBI investigations in the state on the TMCP Foundation Day.
“When Delhi and the federal government can’t do anything against us, they utilise the ED and the CBI,” Mamata stated. Why is it that TMC is being singled out for a coal-related scam? What about the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)? Isn’t there a case of coal fraud pending against them? Mr Amit Shah, your party’s coal mafias are all based in Asansol.”
According to party insiders, the Central agencies are targeting the Mamata Banerjee family because the TMC is now aiming for a national role, and Abhishek Banerjee is rising as a leader who is forming organisations in other states. The party will also focus on this issue at a national level, claiming that the Centre is engaging in vengeful politics.
“You have compelled someone to write something,” she replied. We’ll exchange tit for tat. We haven’t done anything here till now. I don’t believe in vengeful politics. You’re interrogating my family?”
She predicted that agency politics would have ramifications. She emphasised that CBI and ED are being used to target the opposition.
“If you show me threats from the ED, I’ll send them a suitcase full of papers from all other instances to the ED. Will they be able to handle everything? In my entire life, I have never witnessed such vengeful politics. I don’t have a problem with the CBI, but why do they bring BJP politicians with them when they go to investigate? Why won’t the BJP allow them to function independently? Why did the NHRC only go to Bengal?”
The Chief Minister of West Bengal also inquired about the PM Cares Fund. “Why can’t ED find out instead?” says the narrator. Don’t think we’re knuckleheads. What are your plans for the price of LPG? What happened to your Ujala scheme? “Ujala morphed into Andhera,” she explained.
She also stressed the importance of the Opposition coming together to take on the BJP.
“They want to retain their man everywhere; they’ve finalised the federal structure,” she explained. If all Chief Ministers agree, I shall convene a meeting of all Chief Ministers.”
She went on to say that the Centre is refusing to let Uddhav Thackerey and Arvind Kejriwal work. As a result, everyone should gather on one platform to discuss this. Mamata is on the lookout for a strategy to put pressure on the Centre. Mamata had previously spoken of a united front of states putting pressure on the Centre.
She stated that the Centre does not deliver a fair share of funds to states and does not provide funds in the event of a disaster. She also brought up a number of concerns about the GST.
According to sources within the party, Mamata is looking for this front, and she has spoken to other parties about it.
The TMC wants to raise issues not only from an administrative standpoint, but also from a political standpoint, such as why Lalu Prasad Yadav was not permitted to contest, why Uddhav Thackeray is sometimes agitated, and how central investigating agencies have been used against the Opposition.
The details will be worked out soon, but Mamata is determined to convene this summit as soon as possible.
