Kolkata: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has written to opposition leaders and CMs of various states and non-BJP leaders alleging that democracy is under attack. She has asked them to unite to take on the mighty saffron party and has also called for a meeting. Mamata says that the opposition is being harassed with the use of central agencies.
Mamata, who eyes a national role despite a set back in Goa and Tripura, said that it was the need of the hour for all opposition parties to commit to the cause of a unified and principled opposition to give the country the progressive governance it deserves.
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The official Twitter handle of All India Trinamool Congress has shared the letter of their supremo. “Our Hon’ble Chairperson @MamataOfficial writes to all Opposition leaders & CMs, expressing her concern over @BJP4India ‘s direct attacks on Democracy. BJP has repeatedly attacked the federal structure of our country and now, it’s time to unitedly fight this oppressive regime,” AITC tweeted.
In the backdrop of the Enforcement Directorate (ED)’s summons to her nephew and TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee in the coal scam case, Mamata once again hit out at the BJP for allegedly using the central agencies for political gains, an accusation which is echoed by several opposition parties.
“Central agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate, the Central Bureau of Investigation, Central Vigilance Commission are being used to target, harass and corner political opponents across the country for vendetta,” Mamata claimed.
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“It is amply clear that the Opposition is targeted and the BJP-ruled states get a free pass from these agencies to paint a rosy picture of their hollow governance,” she added in the letter.
Not just the central agencies, the mighty TMC leader, who single handedly defeated the BJP in 2021 state polls at her backyard, accused the country’s ruling outfit of “attempting to influence judiciary”.
The Bengal CM said, “In our democratic system, judiciary, media and public are important pillars. If any part is disrupted , the system collapses. Time and again, the BJP is trying to attack the federal structure of this country by attempting to influence a certain section of the judiciary.”
“I urge that everyone of us come together for a meeting to deliberate on the way forward at a place as per everyone’s convenience and suitability. Let us commit to the cause of a unified and principled opposition that will make way for the Government that our country deserves,” she added.
Mamata’s political position as far as the national politics is concerned remained fluid in the last one year as she met country’s primary opposition party Congress’ president Sonia Gandhi to only propose a stronger alliance of regional forces a few weeks later.
After the Congress’ poll debacle in the recent assembly elections earlier this month, Mamata had almost written off Gandhi’s force favouring a rainbow coalition of regional parties, which are dominating the opposition space in contemporary Indian politics.
Abhishek Banerjee not to appear before ED
TMC national secretary and Mamata’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee will not appear before the ED in connection to the coal scam case today. He has communicated the same through email citing personal reasons. However, he mentioned that he will send the 350-400 page documents to ED, which were sought by the agency in the investigation.
Also read: Abhishek Banerjee, wife Rujira move SC, challenging ED in coal scam case
Recently, Abhishek was grilled by ED for more than 12 hours. He and his wife Rujira had also moved the Supreme Court challenging the jurisdiction of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money laundering case linked to the alleged coal scam case.
The 33-year-old TMC politician had earlier said, “We will not cow down before the BJP who are doing this for vendetta because people in Bengal have rejected them. I had challenged the ED’s jurisdiction in August last year before the Delhi HC… The court heard the petition for four months and then kept its judgment reserved for another three months. “Then a day after the BJP won the state elections, the court suddenly dismissed my petition… That cannot be a coincidence. I have my option open to move the SC and I have faith in the judiciary.”
India Blooms News Service
