Narada Tapes WB CM Mamata Banerjee starts sit-in demonstration in front of CBI office, protesting arrest
Kolkata/UNI: West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee on Monday started a sit-in demonstration in front of CBI office at Nizam Palace here, protesting against the arrest of two of her cabinet colleagues Subrata Mukherjee, Firhad Hakim and MLA Madan Mitra along with ex-Kolkata mayor Sovan Chatterjee.
Earlier, the four were arrested by CBI in connection with the Narada scam. The Narada tapes were released in 2016.
The chief minister demanded that she too be arrested as she protested at Nizam Palace.
The Trinamool Congress supporters staged a protest against the arrests in front of Nizam Palace. The party supporters demanded the release of the Trinamool leaders. They shouted slogans against BJP and Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar.
TMC has appealed to Kolkata Police to taken action against CBI officials who have arrested the Bengal ministers.
The party has written to the Kolkata police commissioner and accused CBI of working at the behest of BJP and Bengal governor.
The CBI has asked for additional central forces for deployment as the agitators are trying to break the barricade in front of the Nizam Palace.
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Biman Banerjee claimed that the arrest process was illegal.
He said that to arrest the MLA, it is necessary to get the permission of the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. In this case, it was not taken.
I urge everyone to abide by the law & refrain from any activity that violates lockdown norms for the sake of the larger interest of Bengal and its people.
— Abhishek Banerjee (@abhishekaitc) May 17, 2021
We have utmost faith in the judiciary & the battle will be fought legally.
The governor's approval of the charge sheet is illegal.
TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee in a tweet said, “I urge everyone to abide by the law and refrain from any activity that violates lockdown norms for the sake of the larger interest of Bengal and its people. We have utmost faith in the judiciary & the battle will be fought legally.”
Minister of State for health Chandrima Bhattacharya claimed that this was a political ploy of the BJP.
TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh asked, “Why was an FIR not lodged against Mukul Roy who is now the national vice-president of the BJP? Roy had taken money from former IPS officer Mirza. Also, why has Suvendu Adhikari, who is now the leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly, not been arrested? He was also seen taking money in the tapes.”
Ghosh said, “That’s because they have joined the BJP and got protection. This is nothing but a revenge tactic by the BJP as they lost the Assembly polls.”
However, State Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar tweeted, "Concerned at alarming situation. Call upon Mamata Banerjee to follow constitutional norms & rule of law. Police must take all steps to maintain law & order. Sad- situation is being allowed to drift with no tangible action by authorities."
Earlier in the day Hakim, Mukherjee, Mitra and Chatterjee were arrested by the CBI from their homes and taken to the Central agency’s office in the state capital.
Hakim said that he has been arrested by the CBI concerning the Narada sting operation case.
While he was being taken to the CBI office, Hakim said, “I have been arrested by the CBI in the Narada case.”
He alleged that he was arrested without any prior notice.
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