A day before Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s scheduled meeting with Abida Islam, Deputy High Commissioner of Bangladesh in Kolkata, leader of the Opposition in Assembly Surjya Kanta Mishra alleged that a part of All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) election fund was siphoned off to Bangladesh. This becomes important in the wake of allegations against one of the MPs of AITC for providing money raised from the Saradha Group to Jamaat-e-Islami-Bangladesh (JIB) to destabilise the Awami League government.
Addressing a rally of the youth wings of Left parties, Dr. Mishra said that the AITC ministers, MPs and MLAs should know that their party’s election fund “was not fully spent on during the Assembly elections in 2011. Some of it was kept aside.” Recently, several intelligence and media reports have indicated that AITC MP Ahmed Hassan Imran provided funds to the JMB.
The media reports mostly sourced from intelligent inputs hinted that Mr. Imran got the money from Sudipta Sen, CMD of Saradha Group. While the Awami League is considered pro-India party in Bangladesh, JIB is known for its opposition to Indian policies.
Dr. Mishra mockingly sounded a note of caution to AITC leaders and said that Ms. Banerjee has already forgotten those who helped her be at the helm of the State. He also said that the suspended AITC MP Kunal Ghosh who wanted make “her PM” is not even being allowed to speak by the police.
“Those who wanted her to become Prime Minister are now going to jail,” added Dr. Mishra.
Hinting that Ms. Banerjee is also involved in the Saradha Ponzi scam, Dr. Mishra said “If need be, the money of duped investors has to be returned by sending someone’s land in Kalighat ( Ms Banerjee’s residence in south Kolkata).”
He also asked where the money raised from selling Ms. Banerjee’s painting went.
Mr Imam and the AITC leadership denied involvement in the Saradha Scam.
