West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee ended her three-day sit-in in front of the Metro Channel at Esplanade in Kolkata, on Tuesday. She has been discharging her duties from the protest venue since Sunday night, after CBI officials tried to enter Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar’s residence to allegedly question him in connection with the Saradha chit funds scam case.
Shiv Sahay Singh reports from the protest venue:
Here are the latest updates:
Mamata ends her protest
Ms. Banerjee ends her sit-in. The National Anthem is played.
Emergency was better, feels Naidu
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu accuses the Narendra Modi government of trying to control every IPS officer. He says Ms. Banerjee was not against an investigation into the multi-crore scam, but only insisted that none should be victimised.
"Only Modi and Shah are clean, we are all corrupt. Is it," he asks. Mr. Naidu also wonders how Mr. Shah's son Jay increased his wealth, and raises the Rafale fighter aircraft deal. "I have never seen such a Prime Minister in the past. Even Emergency was better than this," he says.
Mr. Naidu again urges Ms. Banerjee to end her protest. He claims that the Trinamool Congress will win all the 42 seats in West Bengal in the coming Lok Sabha elections.
Dharna is to save India, Constitution, and federal set-up, says Mamata
Ms. Banerjee says: "When we started the dharna, we consulted all political parties and got full support. Everyone gave full support. This was a dharna to save India, save the Constitution, save the federal set-up and we held protest under the banner of 'Save India'.
"Though I started it, others also came in support. I cannot take a decision without consulting other political parties.
''I can stay here. I have done dharna for 26 days," she said, referring to the protest against Singur land acquisition.
''The Home Ministry is asking me to take action against Rajeev Kumar, saying he joined the dharna. But he never came to the stage. The responsibility of the police is to give protection to the Chief Minister. This is very unfortunate. This is very bad. They want to control the State agencies. The Prime Minister should resign and go to Gujarat. The Centre is so desperate that they are not sparing an IPS officer. Only Mr. Modi can stay and all of us cannot," she observes.
''I accept Mr. Naidu's appeal,'' Ms. Banerjee says, hinting at ending her protest.
Naidu urges Mamata to end her sit-in
Mr. Naidu urges Ms. Banerjee to end her protest. "On behalf of 23 political parties, we urge her to withdraw the dharna," he says.
Mr. Naidu says he spoke to eight political party leaders, including his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal and NCP chief Sharad Pawar. "Everyone feels madam should end the dharna. We will take up the issue with Delhi."
Mamata interested in only saving a corrupt officer: U.P. CM Yogi Adityanath
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath accused Ms. Banerjee of exploiting the poor in West Bengal and interested in only saving a "corrupt officer involved in the Saradha ponzi scam."
Mr. Adityanath, who travelled by road to Purulia in West Bengal to address a rally after flying to Bokaro in Jharkhand, referred to the Supreme Court's order directing the Kolkata Police Commissioner to "faithfully" cooperate with the CBI in the investigation into the Saradha chit funds scam. Mr. Adityanath was denied permission to land in West Bengal and he had to go to Jharkhand and come inside Bengal by road to address the rally.
"You must have seen how she is trying to save a corrupt officer. Nothing can be more shameful, undemocratic and unconstitutional than a chief minister of a State sitting on a dharna [sit-in] to ensure that the secrets of corruption don't spill out," he said.
Calling the TMC government a "corrupt and undemocratic" one, he criticised Ms. Banerjee for not allowing the benefits of Central schemes to be passed on to people.
Those fighting Modi will be investigated: Tejashwi
“Why the CBI is not questioning Mukul Roy after he joined the BJP” asks Tejwashi Yadav of the Rashtriya Janata Dal.
“Investigation will only be carried out against those fighting Mr. Modi. Alok Verma, former CBI Director, said that he was pressured to send my father Lalu Prasad Yadav to jail. We want to thank the Supreme Court for today's verdict,” he says.
“Modi ji, today you are calling us corrupt. Will you give it in writing that you will not ally with these 23 parties in future?” he adds.
Mamata is main pillar of Opposition: Chandrababu Naidu
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minster N. Chandrababu Naidu arrives at the protest venue. Ms. Banerjee receives him and escorts him to the stage.
Mr. Naidu says:
“It is very unfortunate to call on madam [Mamata Banerjee] when she is staging a dharna. The recent meeting where all political parties came together was the biggest rally in the history of India. Madam always wants to unite Opposition, she is the architect of Opposition unity. Mamata is the main pillar of Opposition.
“The first time all Opposition parties joined together was at the swearing-in ceremony of H.D. Kumarswamy and then at a meeting in Delhi. But the third meeting in West Bengal was the biggest one.
“All Democratic institutions are in danger. They are misusing the CBI, the ED and even the NSSO.
“This is an old case, they just want to spoil the Opposition dignity... In Andhra Pradesh, MPs, MLAs were all attacked by the ED and the CBI. It is the same everywhere.
“Today we are happy that the Supreme Court has directed the CBI not to make any arrest.
“The Prime Minister is talking about cooperative federalism and team India, but he is acting differently. We are a sovereign government.
“Regarding EVMs, anybody making electronic chips can make changes to it. Even VVPATs have problems. We suggest that half of the VVPATs be utilised for counting.
“We are all united — all the 23 parties. On behalf of 23 parties I have come here.Tomorrow if she wins all the 42 seats, then she will become a deciding factor. But they want to weaken it. With this action you [Ms. Banerjee) are going to win all 42 seats.
“I have been Chief Minister since 1995. Mr. Modi came into politics in 2002. Madam was Union Minister since 1998. We are keen on working together.”
SC has brought Mamata’s political histrionics to a screeching halt: Irani
Ms. Banerjee’s political histrionics have been brought to a screeching halt by the Supreme Court, Union Minister Smriti Irani says after the apex court directed the Kolkata Police Commissioner to cooperate with the CBI in the Saradha chit funds scam probe.
Ms. Irani says the court has ensured that a free and fair investigation takes place.
“With egg on her face, to celebrate it as a moral victory is a dichotomy available only to Mamata Banerjee’s realm of politics,” the BJP leader tells reporters.
The order should be a matter of introspection and concern for Ms. Banerjee, she adds.
Initiate disciplinary proceedings against Rajeev Kumar: MHA
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has asked the West Bengal government to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the Kolkata Police Commissioner for indiscipline and violation of the All India Service (AIS) rules.
The letter, dated February 5, 2019, states that as per information received by the MHA, Mr. Rajeev Kumar, along with some police officers, sat on a dharna with the Chief Minister in Kolkata. which is prima facie in contravention of the AIS rules.
— reports Vijaita Singh from New Delhi
Always ready to cooperate: Mamata
Ms. Banerjee starts speaking about media reports on the Supreme Court order on Tuesday:
“Some media are saying that Police Commissioner will have to face the CBI. This is nothing new. We are always ready to cooperate.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee doing her official works from the protest site in Kolkata on Tuesday.
“The Kolkata Police chief will not face the CBI but will speak to the agency... please do not distort the truth. Everyone has the court order. Why are you saying that the Police Commissioner will face the CBI?” Ms. Banerjee says. “We always cooperate," she adds.
"In the past few days, the BJP had conducted many meetings in Bengal and still they claim that they are not allowed to conduct a meeting? You conducted a meeting even while suffering from swine flu, a vector-borne disease,” says Ms. Banerjee referring to the recent Amit Shah’s meeting
Ms. Banerjee accuses that Assam’s Deputy CM Himanta Biswas Sarma is involved in the Saradha chit fund scam.
“We will give you letter at 3 p.m. here [protest venue]... The letter, by one of the owners of the chit fund company, names Assam’s Deputy CM... Why can't the CBI figure out where Rabindranath Tagore's Nobel Prize is? What did the CBI do in Nandigram, and in Tapasi Malik death case?" she says.
On the support from the Opposition parties, Ms. Banerjee says, “Deve Gowdaji called me and said that he was happy with the protest. He said he could join because of his health issues. A number of leaders of the Opposition have called us... many political parties of the Opposition are supporting us.”
CBI to decide further course of action
Following the Supreme Court order, the CBI has started a meeting in its CGO complex office in Kolkata. According to sources, the CBI is likely to form a team, which will be sent to Shillong.
The CBI will also send a notice to the Kolkata Police chief by the end of this week and call him to Shillong for questioning.
The Supreme Court has ordered the CBI to question Mr. Kumar at a neutral venue in Shillong.
Moral victory for CBI, says BJP on SC order
The BJP says the apex court order directing the Police Commissioner to make himself available before the CBI is a blow to the Mamata Banerjee government and a moral victory for the premier investigating agency.
Senior BJP leader and Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad says that it shows that nobody is above the law, including the Commissioner.
BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya seeks Ms. Banerjee's resignation. “The SC verdict is a victory of democracy. Mamata Banerjee should immediately tender resignation,” he tells PTI . “The SC verdict is a victory of democracy. Mamata Banerjee should immediately tender resignation.”
The State government and its police have repeatedly created hurdles during the investigation, he alleges. “Mamata Banerjee is on a dharna to stop the CBI from questioning a police officer. The people of this country would have loved to see Ms. Banerjee holding a dharna to return the money of chit fund investors,” he adds.
This isn't my victory, this is India's victory: Mamata
Ms. Banerjee welcomes the Supreme Court order, saying:
"We never said we will not cooperate. We know that it is all political vendetta. I am not only pleading for Rajeev Kumar. I am pleading for millions of people. Let me talk to my leaders on how long the dharna will continue. I will talk to other leaders of Opposition. I do not do anything in hurry. We have no quarrel with Central forces. We respect Central forces more than forces from Bengal. ' Jeet humko nahin mili , jeet desh ki Janata ko mili. Jeet constitution ko mili. '
"My movement is for all. It is not a Trinamool Congress movement. In 2019, Modi will not come back to power I have suffered this for long . The contempt petition is rejected. We had suggested a mutual place that the court has agreed and Rajiv Kumar will not be arrested today. It is not my victory, it is a victory to save India [Ms. Banerjee's protest stage is called Save India]. It's a moral victory for the people of the Bengal. It's a moral victory for people of the country. These cases are not new but from 2012-13. We will strengthen the unity of Opposition forces . We will reply on the contempt of the court petition."
Ms. Banerjee alleges that that they were the ones who arrested Sudipta Sen, owner of Saradha Group. "We set up a judicial commission and returned Rs. 300 crore. We will reply to the contempt of court petition."
On BJP leaders being denied permission to hold meetings in the State, she says Mr. Modi held two meetings and Rajnath Singh also held two meetings. ''So how can they say they are denied permission," she asks.
"So many people are involved in chit funds. The Deputy CM of Assam took Rs 3 crore and Babul Supriyo [BJP leader] said that he is Rose of Rose Valley... they have not been arrested. I sat on a dharna for a cause - Save India. We will discuss with all concerned on calling off the protest. I was on hunger strike for 26 days here for farmers of Singur at this very place...Today also we got victory. Mr. Modi is also accused in the Godhra case. Nobody is asking where is Haren Pandya. But I will ask they can kill me or take me to jail," she says.
Ms. Banerjee dismisses the allegation of being benefitted from selling painting as alleged by the Prime Minister. She says, "The CBI is yet to look out on whether money from my paintings went to Chief Minister Relief Fund."
Respite for Kolkata Police chief
A Supreme Court Bench, hearing the pleas of the CBI in the Saradha chit funds scam case, restrains it from taking any coercive steps against the Kolkata Police chief.
Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar.
The Bench orders Mr. Kumar to appear before the CBI and cooperate with the probe. The CBI will have to conduct the probe in a neutral venue in Shillong, it rules.
Also read | CBI vs Kolkata Police: Mamata's open challenge keeps Kolkata awake
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Mr. Kumar, earlier informs the court that his client has informed the CBI authorities that he is willing to take questions at a neutral venue. He also alleges that the CBI’s action is meant to score points.
The top court also issues contempt notice to West Bengal Chief Secretary, the DGP and Kolkata Police Commissioner. They have to file a reply by February 18. Based on their replies, the Supreme Court Secretary General will intimate them on whether they have to personally appear in the court on February 20.
Meanwhile, the Calcutta High Court adjourns the hearing in the Kolkata Police chief case till Thursday as the Supreme Court is seized of the matter.
Sena targets Modi govt
The Shiv Sena, in an editorial in its mouthpiece Saamana , says what is happening in Kolkata is a “threat to democracy".
The Centre could have acted against the Kolkata Police chief two months back and the CBI should have carried proper summons before visiting his house to question him, it says.
“No one involved in the Saradha chit fund scam should be spared, but how does the CBI look at the ‘cheat India’ matter which has been going on for the last four-and-a-half years,” the Uddhav Thackeray-led party remarks.
Without elaborating its point, it says Mr. Modi should look into the crisis in West Bengal as the Prime Minister of the country and not as the leader of the BJP.
The Sena claims that the BJP is going to fall short of 100 Lok Sabha seats from north India to Maharashtra in the Lok Sabha polls.
“To fill the gap, the BJP has laid its hopes on States like West Bengal to win 10 to 15 seats... all this [the all-out war between the Centre and the Mamata Banerjee government] is being orchestrated with an eye on the Lok Sabha polls,” said the Sena, which is an ally of the BJP at the Centre and in Maharashtra.
We have to defeat Modi: Mamata
As tensions between the Centre and the West Bengal government continued to simmer,Ms. Banerjee says, “This demonstration will continue till February 8, because the board examinations will be starting soon and we will not be playing the loudspeakers. If we want to save the country, we have to defeat Mr. Modi.”
Jaitley hits out at Opposition
Union Minister Arun Jaitley terms Ms. Banerjee’s protest a “disproportionate over-reaction”. He says Opposition leaders supporting her is like a “kleptocrat’s club” aspiring to capture the reigns of power in the country.
Arun Jaitley. File photo: PTI
The chit fund fraud was unearthed in 2012-13 and its investigation was handed over to the CBI by the Supreme Court.
“The court monitored the investigation. The CBI has interrogated and even arrested some people. Many have been granted bail. If a police officer is also required to be interrogated, how does it become a super emergency, assault on federalism, or destruction of institutions?” he asks in a Facebook post titled ‘The Kleptocrat’s Club’
Kejriwal, Naidu to join Mamata
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during a sit-in over the CBI's attempt to question the Kolkata Police commissioner in connection with chit fund scams, in Kolkata on Monday
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Mr. Chandrababu Naidu are expected to visit the dharna site at Metro Channel, sources tell PTI .
Prominent leaders such as the DMK’s Kanimozhi and RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav visited the dharna venue on Monday to express solidarity with Ms. Banerjee.
The dharna site, titled “satyagraha mancha”, has been devoid of any political colour.The Chief Minister has been discharging her official duties, including signing of papers, from the dais. Sources close to Ms. Banerjee, who is also the Trinamool Congress chief, said she would continue to discharge her official duties from the protest site till the demonstration is called off.
The Chief Minister has described her protest as a non-political one and welcomed all anti-BJP parties into it. Prominent personalities, including poets and singers, have visited her to lend support.
Actor Indrani Halder and senior ministers Arup Biswas and Indranil Sen were present at the ‘dharna mancha’ on Tuesday morning.
(With inputs from news agencies)
