New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee voiced grave concern on Sunday, accusing the central investigative agencies of pressuring TMC (Trinamool Congress) leaders to join the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) or face action.
Speaking at an election rally in Purulia district, CM Banerjee condemned agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), National Investigation Agency (NIA), and the Income Tax Department, alleging they were acting as "arms" of the BJP.
Banerjee highlighted instances of alleged harassment, citing raids conducted without prior notice and intrusions into homes.
"Agencies such as the NIA, ED and CBI are being used to harass TMC leaders. They are carrying out raids without prior information, and barging into houses. What are the women supposed to do if someone entered their house when everyone was asleep in the dead of night," PTI quoted Banerjee as saying.
She questioned the ethics of such actions, particularly the invasion of privacy late at night, and raised concerns that these could be miscreants operating under the guise of official agencies. Banerjee referred to past incidents in Singur and Nandigram, where women protesting against such actions were reportedly booked.
“They could have been miscreants under the guise of NIA. Such incidents have earlier been reported from Singur and Nandigram too,” she said.
The chief minister also criticised the NIA's monitoring of political activities, suggesting it was beyond the agency's mandate and accusing the BJP of manipulating these agencies for its political gain.
CM Banerjee was referring to a recent clash between a mob and an NIA team in Bhupatinagar, where the agency came to arrest two key conspirators linked to a blast case.
She also alleged that TMC members were being coerced into joining the BJP and warned against succumbing to such pressure.
"The agencies are asking our leaders and activists to either join the BJP or face action," she said.
Banerjee also accused the BJP of stoking communal tensions, particularly during Ram Navami celebrations.
"Encourage gathering for rallies and meetings, but maintain peace and refrain from rioting. It is the BJP who tends to incite violence. The upcoming voting is scheduled for April 19, and they might resort to rioting on April 17. It's important to remember that Lord Ram doesn't advocate for rioting, yet these people might resort to it, paving the way for agencies like the NIA to intervene in the state," she said.
Taking further potshots at the Centre, she alleged the government was withholding funds allocated for West Bengal under schemes like MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) and PM-Awas (Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana).
However, she assured the people that the state government would step in to provide financial support for housing construction, despite obstacles from the Election Commission.
She also promised to allocate Rs 1.2 lakh for building houses for the poor, expressing confidence in the state government's ability to fulfill this commitment post elections.