Mamata Banerjee writes to Opposition leaders for meet over Central agencies’ “misuse”
She expressed "deep concern" on the matter.
West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has written to Opposition leaders in the country on what she alleged was the Central government agencies being misused by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre to target rivals. She has called a meeting on this for discussing a “way forward”. She expressed “deep concern” on the matter.
In a letter dated Sunday, Banerjee wrote that the BJP is using the agencies to target Opposition leaders “just when elections are around the corner” anywhere in the country.
“I urge that everyone of us come together for a meeting to deliberate on the way forward at a place as per everyone’s convenience and suitability. The need of the hour is for all progressive forces in this country to come together and fight this oppressive force,” she wrote in the letter. She urged for a “unified and principled opposition”.
“Central agencies such as the ED, CBI, Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and the Income Tax Department are being used to target, harass and corner political opponents across the country for vendetta,” Banerjee wrote in her letter to the Opposition leaders. “We all must resist the ruling BJP’s intention to misuse these central agencies with the sole intent of suppressing opposition leaders. Central agencies are jolted just when elections are around the corner.”
Banerjee also added that laws “bulldozed through” the Parliament during an Opposition walkout, enabling the Centre to extend the tenure of the ED and CBI chiefs. She added: “I have the highest regard for the judiciary. But at present due to certain biased political interferences, people are not getting justice which is a dangerous trend in our democracy. In our democratic system, judiciary, media and public are important pillars. If any part is disrupted, the system collapses.”
She said that as Opposition parties, “it is our constitutional responsibility” to hold the government accountable for their actions.
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