'Ration Chor': BJP's Dig After ED Nabs Bengal Minister Jyotipriya Mallick In Public Distribution System Scam

After Mallick's arrest in an alleged corruption case, the BJP took a dig at the TMC leader and said that the people were demanding the arrest of 'ration thief' since COVID-19.

West Bengal minister Jyotipriya Mallick being taken by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials to be produced in court in connection with the alleged ration scam after his medical check-up at Joka ESI Hospital, in Kolkata. ( Image Source :PTI )

After the Enforcement Directorate arrested West Bengal Minister Jyotipriya Mallick in connection with an alleged corruption case in the public distribution system, the Bharatiya Janata Party took a dig at the Trinamool Congress leader saying that the people of Bengal were demanding the arrest of 'Chaal Chor' (ration thief) since the COVID-19 pandemic. The probe agency arrested him after conducting a raid at his residence in the Salt Lake region of Kolkata.

BJP leader Rahul Sinha said, "People of Bengal were demanding the arrest of 'Chaal Chor' (ration thief) since the COVID-19 pandemic. Jyotipriya Mallick was given the name 'Chaal Chor' by the entire West Bengal."

VIDEO | "People of Bengal were demanding the arrest of 'Chaal Chor' (ration thief) since the COVID-19 pandemic. Jyotipriya Mallick was given the name 'Chaal Chor' by the entire West Bengal," says BJP leader Rahul Sinha on West Bengal minister Jyotipriya Mallick's arrest by ED in… pic.twitter.com/c4x4natNIa

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 27, 2023

On ED raids, Meenakashi Lekhi said, "Who will be frightened by ED and IT? Whoever has committed theft should fear... Those who have acquired black money should fear ED and IT".

#WATCH | Raipur, Chhattisgarh: On raids by central agencies, Union Minister Meenakashi Lekhi says, "...Who will be frightened by ED and IT? Whoever has committed theft should fear... Those who have acquired black money should fear ED and IT..." pic.twitter.com/wEoBOHC9Ek

— ANI (@ANI) October 27, 2023

General Secretary of West Bengal BJP and MLA Agnimitra Paul said, "This was about to happen, we were waiting for it...Huge scam has happened and Mamata Banerjee needs to take responsibility for it. If Jyotipriya Mallick is being interrogated, Mamata Banerjee needs to be interrogated before that because she is the CM and under her all these things happened. She didn't know?...What is she there for? Ask her to resign and sit at home. But before you resign, you need to face interrogation. You knew everything," as quoted by ANI.

#WATCH | On the arrest of West Bengal minister Jyotipriya Mallick in an alleged case of corruption in PDS ration distribution, General Secretary of West Bengal BJP & MLA Agnimitra Paul says, "This was about to happen, we were waiting for it...Huge scam has happened and Mamata… pic.twitter.com/RLaSvRF4PZ

— ANI (@ANI) October 27, 2023

Jyotipriya Mallick is the Minister of Forest Affairs and previously held the portfolio for the Food and Civil Supplies department. The development comes amid an ongoing tussle between opposition and ruling BJP on the actions taken by the agency against Rajasthan Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra.