‘Agency raj’ unleashed on Centre’s critics: Mamata

Kolkata: A day after writing to PM Narendra Modi along with seven other leaders against the “witch hunt” by central agencies, chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday, in the wake of a CBI team going to former Bihar CM Rabri Devi’s house, once again decried the “agency raj” unleashed on the opposition“It is an agency raj. It has become a common practice to unleash an agency on people opposing the government at the Centre. The way the agency raided the Bengal government’s counsel’s home reiterates this. Today I heard of an agency raid at Rabri Devi’s house,” Banerjee said in the assembly.Earlier in the day, Trinamool spokesperson Kunal Ghosh questioned the “selective raids and arrests of opposition leaders”. He pointed out that Bihar deputy CM and Rabri’s son Tejashwi Yadav was also a signatory to the letter to the PM on Sunday.Ghosh also raised the “practice” of raiding leaders vocal against the Union government and soft-pedalling when it came to those in BJP facing the same charges. The letter brought up the Saradha probe to illustrate th-is “dichotomy”. “For example, former Congress member and current Assam chief minister (CM) Shri Himanta Biswa Sarma was probed by the CBI and the ED in 2014 and 2015 over the Saradha chit fund scam. However, the case did not progress after he joined the BJP. Similarly, former TMC leaders Shri Suvendu Adhikari and Shri Mukul Roy were under the ED and CBI scanner in the Narada sting operation case, but the cases did not progress after they joined the BJP ahead of the assembly polls in the state,” it said. Banerjee also attacked Congress and CPM, saying: “This (Sagardighi assembly bypoll) has unmasked the unholy alliance of the CPM-Congress and BJP.” Describing Congress as BJP’s A team, CPM its B team and the “religious party” as the C team, Banerjee said: “It is only Trinamool that puts up a frontal fight against BJP.” Without naming state leader of opposition Suvendu Adhikari, the CM said: “Being people’s representative, one should not say anything one wishes. You need to be responsible. Think twice before you attack one personally. The cat will be out of the bag.”
Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, and Mini Crossword.