Chit fund fiasco: Mamata Banerjee taunts victims

Kolkata, April 23: While people across

struggle to come to terms with a horrible reality of losing their life-time savings in the Saradha chit fund

, state Chief Minister

chose to rub salt in their wounds by terming their agony as a drama, though with a weak script.

The CM, whose Trinamool Congress (TMC) vows to fight for the people's cause at the slightest turn of events, also termed the agents of the chit fund company as 'CPI(M) supporters' while speaking at a press conference at the state secretariat on Monday. "I love drama but this one is proving to be a weak script," a popular Bengali daily quoted her as saying.

The CM seemed to be not much bothered by the massive scam in which thousands of investors lost their life savings and several others lost their jobs. Instead, she was more concerned to attach the 'CPI(M)' label to the ill-fated agents of the chit fund company, the report said. She also taunted the media persons for asking uncomfortable questions.

According to the CM, the Saradha had started business in 2006 when the Left Front was in power and hence all the agents of the company were appointed by the former rulers.

The CM did not stop here. She told those who went bankrupt: "What's gone is gone. Be patient. We are making a law for you." The Opposition slammed Banerjee for such casual remark. Leader of the Opposition Surjya Kanta Mishra said: "The CM's message is clear. She said what's gone that's gone and if there is more to be stolen, steal that as well."

Two people have already committed suicide in the state after losing money and prestige in the fiasco while thousands have taken to the streets demanding punishment for the culprits. The chairman and managing director of Saradha Group, Sudipta Sen, has been absconding and according to some quarters, he might be helped to flee for some top leaders could get exposed if he is brought to the law. The ruling TMC has been accused of backing Sen although the party is now desperately trying to distance itself from the scam.

State Left Front chairman Biman Bose alleged that the government was busy making law and probe commissions to give more time to Sen to flee.

According to the report, a section of the TMC feels that blaming the Left for the recent fiasco could prove counter-productive. The agents are mostly unemployed youth and by alienating them at this hour of crisis by terming them as 'CPM agents', the chief minister could have done a blunder.

But 'blunder' is perhaps the most popular term used to describe the working of the Bengal chief minister.

OneIndia News