After Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu announced that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) cannot conduct investigations (or raids) in his state without permission, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee too chose to withdraw the general consent given to the central investigating agency in the state.
CBI has jurisdiction over Delhi, but can enter other states only with the consent of the government of that state. “Chandrababu Naidu has done the right thing… The BJP is a policy changer, name changer, note changer, institution changer and Constitution changer, but not a game changer, because of which the country is in great danger,” Banerjee said at a programme in Kolkata on Friday.
The Andhra Pradesh government has withdrawn this “free pass” order a few days ago. Naidu has earlier accused the Centre for using the agency for its own gains. With the two top officers of the CBI accusing each other of corruption and asked to go on leave, there are more reasons now for the Opposition parties to back their arguments against the investigating agency.
The CBI is investigating a number of cases in West Bengal in connection with the Saradha and Narada scams for which top leaders in the state have been accused of being involved.
