CBI-Kolkata Police Standoff: Mamata To Consult Naveen On Ending Dharna

Kolkata: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said she will consult her Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik along with leaders of other parties before calling off her sit-in dharna in central Kolkata following the CBI-Kolkata Police standoff.

Mamata’s comments followed the Supreme Court order asking Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar to join the CBI in the chit fund scam investigation.

““Let me talk to the leaders. I will also consult Naveen Patnaik Ji in this regard, I don’t go alone. We are not alone. I will consult the main opposition leaders of all the parties who extended their support to us,” she told mediapersons after the top court’s order.

The chief minister said she will be awaiting the arrival of her Andhra Pradesh counterpart N Chandrababu Naidu, who is expected in Kolkata this afternoon.

Alleging that the Centre had launched a smear campaign against her, Mamata accused the Modi Government of muzzling democracy and undermining the federal structure.

Maintaining that CBI was being misused by the Centre as a political weapon, she questioned the legitimacy of sending arrested party leaders to Odisha.

“You arrested Sudip Bandopadhyay and sent him to Odisha. You arrested Tapas Pal and sent him to Odisha and you have now sent Srikant (Mohata) to Odisha. What is this?” she asked.

The CBI had brought the above said leaders to Bhubaneswar following their arrest in Kolkata in connection with the Sarada and the Rose Valley chit fund scam and produced in CBI court.

While the Apex Court order on Wednesday was seen a big blow to Mamata, she, however, remained unfazed and saw it as a moral victory for the people of West Bengal.