: Cornered by successive arrests of her party’s leaders in the Saradha scam, the latest being West Bengal Transport Minister Madan Mitra, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee continued to remain combative and openly challenged the BJP-led government at the Centre to arrest her.
Describing the arrest as “illegal and unconstitutional,” she questioned the jurisdiction of the CBI in arresting her cabinet colleague. Accusing the BJP of indulging in political vendetta, Ms Banerjee said that the party is using the Central agency as a ‘political tool’.
She said none from the State government or even the Speaker of West Bengal Legislative Assembly had been informed about the arrest.
The Chief Minister also saw a conspiracy in the arrest made on Friday stating that the minister was arrested in the day as courts and Parliament will not function during the weekend. She also challenged the CBI to arrest her.
“I will go and visit Madan at SSKM Hospital, if he is taken there. Let me see them arrest me. Let me see how many police Narendra Modi has and how goons Amit Shah has,” Ms Banerjee said at a hurriedly called press conference at the State Secretariat.
Accusing the BJP of crossing all boundaries, Ms Banerjee called upon all political parties opposed to it to join her party in its fight against the BJP. On being asked whether she is ready to align with the Left parties, she said different political parties may have their own agenda and those willing to join her in the fight against the BJP may join her.
During the press conference, she made references to the conversions in Agra also criticised the proposals made to declare Gita national scripture.
Earlier in the day senior AITC leader and West Bengal panchayat Minister Subrata Mukherjee accused BJP president Amit Shah of using the CBI.
“Even before Amit Shah came to Kolkata, it was decided that the CBI would arrest Madan Mitra,” he said.
The AITC had given a call for a rally on Saturday where sportspersons and people will participate to protest against Mr Mitra’s arrest.
