The political slugfest over alleged assaults on officers belonging to central probe companies in West Bengal intensified on Sunday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the Trinamool Congress (TMC) of “shielding extortionists and corrupt leaders”, and chief minister Mamata Banerjee alleged the federal companies had been working as “extended arms” of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Centre.
Read right here: West Bengal police file a case in opposition to NIA probe crew
While Modi alleged that the TMC needs a free licence for corruption and violence in Bengal, the state’s ruling celebration claimed the BJP is attempting to “manage the referee” by means of use of central companies to “keep out the players” through the electoral conflict within the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
The two-way tirade got here a day after a crew of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) was allegedly attacked by locals in East Midnapore district throughout raids in reference to its probe into the 2022 Bhupatinagar blast case.
While NIA mentioned one in every of its officers was injured and a automobile was broken within the alleged assault in Bhupatinagar, Banerjee mentioned the villagers acted in “self-defence” because the probe company officers barged into a number of homes within the early hours of Saturday.
Saturday’s incident bore similarities of an assault on an Enforcement Directorate (ED) crew in Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district on January 5, once they went to go looking the home of TMC strongman and zilla parishad chief Shahjahan Sheikh in reference to a ration distribution rip-off.
Addressing a mega rally at Dhupguri in Jalpaiguri, Modi mentioned: “The TMC government seeks to have a free pass for looting and terror in Bengal. To shield its extortionist and corrupt leaders, the TMC orchestrates attacks on central investigative agencies when they come here.”
He added: “The TMC is a party that disrespects India’s Constitution and Rule of Law. TMC’s syndicate Raj prevails in Bengal.”
Modi additionally mentioned that the state of affairs within the state is such that “the court has to intervene” in varied issues.
The Calcutta excessive courtroom has transferred the probe into the assault on the ED crew in Sandeshkhali to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Modi claimed that ED has connected properties price ₹3,000 crore from “corrupt” TMC leaders in varied graft instances in Bengal and that options are being taken on methods to return the cash to those that have given it.
He urged the gathering at Dhupguri to “teach the TMC a lesson in these elections” in order that “deposits of its candidates get forfeited”. “I guarantee you that the money looted by corrupt leaders will be given back to the poor people who had to give money to get jobs,” he mentioned.
His remarks got here on a day Banerjee, who can be the president of TMC, alleged that central probe companies had been working as “extended arms” of the BJP.
“Agencies such as the NIA, ED and CBI are being used to harass TMC leaders. They are carrying out raids without prior information, and barging into homes. What would women do if someone entered their house when everyone was asleep in the dead of night?” she mentioned, as she accused the central company of mounting the assault on Saturday.
Addressing a rally in Purulia district, she additionally alleged that central companies had been “asking TMC leaders to either join the BJP or face action”. “NIA is keeping us under surveillance,” she alleged.
The Centre had despatched 136 groups to the state to search out alleged irregularities by TMC leaders, she mentioned. “But, what came out in the investigation? Please issue a white paper,” she demanded.
TMC nationwide spokesperson Kunal Ghosh hit out on the BJP, saying they need to oust the ruling celebration from the ballot battle by managing the “referee” and enjoying on an “empty field”.
Read right here: NIA says assault on its crew in Bengal an try and hinder company’s responsibility
“You have seen what NIA is doing in Bhupatinagar. On one hand, top leaders are being disturbed and on the other hand, they are trying to empty the booths. They (BJP) want to manage the referee (NIA), get them to the field and keep out the players (TMC) so that they can play on an empty field,” he instructed a press convention in Kolkata.
He additionally claimed that individuals have come to know that NIA is getting used because the cadre of the BJP. “Why is the public so furious? This is because people now know that NIA is being used as a BJP cadre. They are spreading violence in the area. Old cases are being dug up before polls. They are conducting raids, nabbing the accused and threatening people,” he mentioned.
(With company inputs)
Source: www.hindustantimes.com
