Central Agencies Scripting Dramas To Raid TMC Leaders’ Houses: Mamata

On Tuesday, West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee alleged that central probe agencies were scripting dramas to conduct raids at houses of TMC leaders as the BJP is scared of her party.

This statement by Banerjee comes four days after a mob assaulted Enforcement Directorate (ED) officers during a raid at TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh’s residence at Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district last week in connection with the ration distribution scam.

The TMC has levelled allegations against ED officials that they incited the locals, leading to the unfortunate situation.

At a programme at Joynagar in South 24 Parganas district, Banerjee said, “Actually, they (BJP) are scared of the TMC. That is the reason in the name of conducting raids, they (central agencies) are scripting dramas and arresting TMC leaders. They are thinking that by arresting TMC leaders, they will be able to vacate the area and the BJP will have an open ground to play.”

However, winning elections will not be that easy, Banerjee said, adding, “We will not give an inch of land without fights.”

The TMC chief, without taking names, cautioned people that keeping gold at home has become risky as “mice and bats are moving around” to take them away. She said, “They will loot your money which you have earned and saved.”

The West Bengal chief minister said that Saradha Group director Sudipto Sen, the main accused in the chit fund scam, was arrested in Kashmir and her government had distributed Rs 200 crore to the poor who had invested there.

Banerjee said, “You have arrested several people in the name of chit funds. You can do that. We also do not support chit funds (scams). But have you given money to the common people?”

The TMC supremo, alleging that the CPI(M) had started the chit fund scams, said that not a single leader of the Left party was arrested.

She said, “Now, you keep on blaming the TMC for everything – for cattle (scam), coal (scam) and others… Even if there is a blot on a piece of cloth, you blame the TMC.”

While referring to the Bogtui village massacre of 2022 — in which 10 people were killed in West Bengal’s Birbhum district, Banerjee said that her government has provided compensation and jobs to the family members of those who lost their lives.

She also hit out at the Centre for not releasing the funds that are due to West Bengal for schemes like MGNREGA (and others); she alleged they were instead directing the government of the state to “paint everything in saffron”.

Banerjee said, “Saffron is the colour of the sadhus. We respect them. But tell me why will we use the BJP colour? Even if they are giving us a Re 1 project, they are asking us to use the BJP’s logo to that. I am ready to use the logo of the Government of India or the West Bengal government but not that of BJP.”

Banerjee described the CPI(M) as a “terrorist party” and said she would never “compromise” with them. She also said that her party was not scared of the BJP and would never surrender to them.

“We will continue our fight and never surrender to the BJP. And will also not compromise with the terrorist CPI(M) party which has played with severed heads of people for 34 years. Keep this in your mind,” Banerjee said.