Don't believe PM Modi behind misuse of CBI, ED: Bengal CM Mamata

Kolkata, Sep 19: In a statement that has surprised many, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said that she doesn't believe that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is behind the alleged excesses of central agencies in the state, but blamed a section of the BJP leaders for misusing them to serve their interests.

The Bengal CM, who was speaking on a resolution in the Assembly against the "excesses" of the central probe agencies, urged the Prime Minister to ensure that the agenda of the union government and the interests of his party do not get mixed up.

Banerjee, a fierce critic of PM Modi, said, "The Prime Minister must look into the excesses of central agencies. The Prime Minister must ensure that the functioning of the union government and the interests of his party do not get mixed up,"

The West Bengal said that the CBI, which used "to report to the Prime Minister's Office, is now under the jurisdiction of the Union Home Ministry.

She had earlier blamed the PM for unleashing CBI and ED against political opponents.

Referring to state BJP leaders, Banerjee wondered why they are "meeting" CBI officers at their office often. The chief minister claimed that businessmen are leaving the country as they are being hounded by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

"The present union government is behaving in a dictatorial way. This resolution is not against anyone in particular but against the biased functioning of the central agencies. (It appears) that all opposition leaders, including TMC leaders, are thieves and BJP leaders, those who have joined from other parties, have become saints," she said.

In a first, the West Bengal Assembly passed a resolution against the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and other federal agencies, under Rule 169 against 'excess use of central investigation agencies in the state.

The development comes at a time when the central agencies are investigating several high-profile cases linked to the Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders.

Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari said such a "resolution against the CBI and ED" is against the rules and regulations of the Assembly.

The resolution was passed through division, with 189 voting in favour of it and 69 against it.

In the recent past, former West Bengal minister and now suspended TMC leader Partha Chatterjee was arrested in an alleged school service recruitment scam, and Trinamool Birbhum District President Anubrata Mondal was arrested in an alleged cattle smuggling investigation.

It may be recalled that the state government had passed a resolution against increased jurisdiction of the Border Security Force (BSF) along the Indo-Bangladesh border, last year.