CBI functioning as a 'department of PMO': Mamata Banerjee

New Delhi, Dec 18: Pulling no punches in her attack against BJP for allegedly pursuing "political vendetta" against TMC, West Bengal Chief Minister today charged that CBI was being used as a "political tool" by the NDA government and was functioning as "a department of the PMO".

"We are the only party fighting a battle against BJP, who are trying to bulldoze TMC. That (arrest of WB transport minister Madan Mitra) is political vendetta. BJP... are jealous of us (but) democracy cannot be bulldozed or imposed. "The attitude which is displayed (by BJP) is dictatorial.

TMC will not bow down before anyone, except the people of the country. This is a political fight and it will fight (it) politically and democratically. You cannot stop our voice," Banerjee told reporters outside Parliament.

Banerjee maintained that her party had no role to play in the Saradha chit fund scam since it had not taken place under her government. She said there are many cases pending with CBI in which there has not been any outcome.

"It (CBI) is not an autonomous body, but a department of the PMO. If the CBI is important, then it should act in public interest. Rabindranath Tagore, who won the first Nobel prize in India... his Nobel medal was stolen, even that has not been found. Has CBI closed the case?

"In the Gyaneshwari accident case (of 2010), around 200 people were killed. As the (then) railway minister, I had initiated a CBI inquiry, but nothing happened. In Singur, the Rizwanur Rehman case, in Nandigram, in Netai... nothing has happened? So is the CBI a tool of the government?

"If you ask me the role of CBI, (it is) A-political vendetta, B-political-vendetta, C-political vendetta," she said. As she sought to defend Mitra, who was recently arrested by CBI in connection with the Saradha scam, Banerjee said TMC is the only party that has no role to play in any scam.

"If you talk of about our MP (Kunal Ghosh) who was arrested, we gave nominations to three-four journalists as there was no representation from the media. They were not related to our party. TMC has no connection with any scam. Those who talk about scams should see that charity begins at home (sic).

"Saradha (scam) did not take place during our government. From 2001-2006, it happened during the Left Front government. And not only in Bengal, but in Kerala, Tripura, Assam, Odisha. Chit fund is not illegal, but in the name of chit fund, cheating people is an illegal thing," she said.

PTI