Modi-Shah trying to undermine institutions: Mamata Banerjee

Janjivan Bureau / Kolkata:  West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee sitting on her ‘Save the Constitution’ dharna at Metro Channel, Kolkata. Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar is also present. Mamata lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP to “Save the Constitution” this evening after a huge showdown between the police and officials of the Central Bureau of Investigation. The CBI wanted to quiz Kolkata police chief Rajeev Kumar in two Ponzi schemes, over which several leaders of the Ms Banerjee’s party have been arrested. Five CBI officials, who turned up at Mr Kumar’s home, were taken to a local police station and allegedly detained. “How dare you come to a police commissioner’s home without a warrant,” Ms Banerjee furiously demanded, accusing the BJP-led central government of trampling over people’s constitutional rights.

The opposition has rallied around Ms Banerjee, with various leaders — including Arvind Kejriwal, Tejashwi Yadav, Lalu Yadav and HD Devegowda tweeting their outrage. Mr Kejriwal and senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel has called up Mamata Banerjee and offered her full support.

“They (the BJP) cannot fight is politically. That’s why they are resorting to all this… Mr (Ajit) Doval is doing whatever PM wants him to do, he is the one giving all the instructions to CBI,” Ms Banerjee said.

The CBI officers, who were released later, are planning to meet the Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi. Ms Banerjee is sitting on dharna at the designated spot for protests in Central Kolkata, accompanied by Kolkata police chief Rajeev Kumar.

Rajeev Kumar — who headed a Special Investigation Team probing the Saradha and Rose Valley Ponzi scams that surfaced in 2013 — was asked to help with the investigation after several key documents allegedly went missing.

This time, reports appeared in media that Mr Kumar may be arrested for evading questioning. Some reported that he was “absconding” and the Kolkata Police said they would take action for the defamatory reports.

After a meeting with the police brass at Mr Kumar’s house, Ms Banerjee said the trouble had flared up after she held the mega rally of 23 opposition parties in Kolkata on January 19. She also accused PM Modi of using unparliamentary language during his recent rallies in the state. The Prime Minister had claimed the Bengal government was killing the aspirations of the middle class through “triple T — Trinamool Tolabazi Tax”. ”Tolabazi” roughly translates to an act of organised extortion.

The CBI-state police battle has reached the Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court, with the agency alleging that police was obstructing investigations. The case will come up for hearing at the Calcutta High Court later this month. Another case is pending in the Supreme Court, involving the state police “summons” to CBI officers.

The state’s BJP lawmaker Babul Supriyo tweeted: “President’s Rule should be imposed on West Bengal to control this ‘Rogue’ #TMchhi Govt under a corrupt CM MamtaBanerjee. This is a constitutional crisis ‘created’ by Mamta to shield her corrupt & tainted accomplices”