Bengal turned into a battleground using ED, CBI, Cases and Vitriol as Chess Pieces
"So predictable. So desperate. All BJP allies have left them. So the only loyal allies are CBI and ED." said Banerjee
Bengal loves its “Daba” apart from its Durga, Didi and Doi. Like it’s a “raita phail gaya” in Delhi’s local parlance the “Daba shuru hoyeche” (The Game of Chess is On!) is a usual quip in Bengal.
Didi these days and her nephew (Abhishek Banerjee) is in all things Bengal can be associated with, more so if they are newsworthy. In this game of ‘Daba’ where ED, CBI, Cases and Vitriol all are involved, Abhishek is also omnipresent.
On one side a special court at Bidhannagar has transferred a defamation suit filed by TMC MP Abhishek against Union Home minister Amit Shah to a Bankshall Metropolitan court and on the other CBI has served a notice to his wife and sister-in-law asking them to join a probe in the coal pilferage case.
The CBI on Sunday summoned the wife and sister-in-law of TMC leader and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's nephew Abhishek Banerjee asking them to join the probe in the coal pilferage case. In a statement, the party said that people will give a befitting reply to the BJP over this during the polls. "So predictable. So desperate. All BJP allies have left them. So the only loyal allies are CBI and ED. CBI is the only ally of the BJP left," it stated. The party said it was not scared and will fight it out.
Elections have never been for the faint-hearted in Bengal and this one also is turning out to be a high voltage drama, unfolding with new twists and turns as a good game of chess should. On one side is the “chanakya” of Indian politics (as Amit Shah is referred to in Indian polity) and on the other the self styled Queen – Mamata Di, but with a benevolent persona.
A special court at Bidhannagar in Salt Lake on Monday transferred the defamation suit against the Union Home minister Amit Shah to a city Metropolitan court since the addresses of the defendant was beyond its jurisdiction. After the local BJP Office address in Kolkata which was shared earlier turned out not be his and the addresses of Delhi and Ahmedabad were beyond its jurisdiction the Special Judge directed the matter to be sent to the Metropolitan Magistrate Court in Bankshall.
The assembly elections in West Bengal are due in April-May. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched a vigorous campaign to oust the ruling TMC that had secured consecutive wins in 2011 and 2016 under its leader charismatic Mamata Banerjee. A Lok Sabha member, Abhishek Banerjee wields considerable influence in the party and has been leading the Trinamool Congress' counter-attack.
Today the Prime Minister was also present in the state addressing a gathering where he alleged that TMC rule has unleashed large scale corruption. “Cut Money” is required for anything and he reinforced the poll promise that if BJP was voted in the era of Corruption will end.
Rebutting it point by point, Mamata Di also today in her own fiery way alleged that she was being obliquely targeted but that she will not be intimidated by “all this”.
As the heat was turning on in the MP/MLA court, according to informed sources, officials from the probe agency knocked on Banerjee’s home with the intent of interrogating his wife. However, she didn't join the probe. CBI had earlier issued summons to Banerjee's sister-in-law Menaka Gambhir and had asked her to appear before the investigating agency.
The CBI is probing a multi-crore coal scam in Bengal, in collieries near city of Asansol in Paschim Bardhaman District, wherein the agency is investigating two kingpins - Anup Majhi alias Lala, and Binay Mishra. Both are absconding and have been named by the agency as proclaimed offenders. The investigating agency has issued a look-out notice against both of them.
Just a few days back, at a public rally, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari had claimed that Lala used to transfer money to Abhishek's wife Rujira Narula Banerjee's bank account. He alleged that Lala transferred Rs 1.5 lakh Thai currency daily to Rujira's bank account in Bangkok. Meanwhile, the CBI is probing if Rujira had any business relations with Lala.
Reacting to the CBI notice, Abhishek Banerjee said he has full faith in the law of the land, and would not be "cowed down" by the "ploys". “However, if they think they can use these ploys to intimidate us, they are mistaken. We are not the ones who would ever be cowed down," Banerjee said in his statement.
In a sharp attack, the Trinamool Congress hit out at the Centre, alleging political vendetta as the CBI served a notice to Banerjee's wife.
For breaking news and live news updates, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Read more on Latest National News on The National Bulletin