West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chairperson Mamata Banerjee has written a letter to the Chief Ministers of non-BJP ruled States urging them to resist the ruling BJP’s intention to “misuse central agencies” with the sole intent of suppressing Opposition leaders.
“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. The need of the hour is for all progressive forces in this country to come together and fight this oppressive force,” the Chief Minister said in the letter dated March 27. She called upon all the leaders to “commit to the cause of a unified and principled Opposition that will make way for the government that our country deserves”.
The letter comes at a time when her party leaders are feeling the heat of the Central agencies. While the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is probing the post-poll violence and the Rampurhat massacre, the Enforcement Directorate has recorded the statement of TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee in a coal pilferage case.
“Central agencies such as the ED, CBI, Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and the Income Tax Department are being used to target, harass and corner political opponents across the country for vendetta,” Ms. Banerjee said in the communication. The Trinamool Congress chairperson referred to the Delhi Special Police (Amendment) Bill 2021 and CVC (Amendment) Bill 2021 and said that these laws would enable the Centre to extend the tenure of directors of the ED and the CBI up to five years in blatant violation of a previous Supreme Court order.
“Central agencies are jolted to action when elections are round the corner. It is amply clear that the BJP-ruled States get a free pass from these agencies to paint a rosy picture of their hollow governance. We believe in transparency and accountability in governance but we will not tolerate the vindictive politics of the BJP that has led to a political witch hunt,” the letter said.
Ms. Banerjee alleged that BJP was trying to attack the federal structure of the country “by attempting to influence a certain section of judiciary” and added that as “Opposition parties it is our constitutional responsibility to hold this government accountable to their actions, to resist the stifling of voices of dissent”.
