BJP after my party and family, but we are not afraid, says Mamata :Abhishek dares Central agency to arrest him if there is proof of corruption

PTI, Kolkata/ Bankura, May 19, 2023 :  West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday lashed out at the BJP , claiming the saffron party was gunning for her party men and members of her family, using the investigative agencies. 

The accusation made at a party rally in Bankura virtually from Kolkata, came after the CBI called her nephew and TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee to its office at Nizam Palace here on Saturday in connection with its probe into the school jobs scam. 

“BJP is after everyone in our party and my family, but we are not afraid of them,” the TMC Supremo said, implying the saffron party was behind the summons issued by the central investigative agency to Abhishek, adding “BJP is afraid of the success of our campaign.” 

"Till BJP is ousted from the Centre, our fight against its tyranny will continue,” Mamata Banerjee thundered. Banerjee had to step in at the last moment to address the rally virtually from Kolkata, as Abhishek Banerjee, who is presently in the district, had to leave for Kolkata to be able to appear before CBI at 11 am on Saturday. 

However, Banerjee on Friday dared the Central agency to arrest him if it has any proof of corruption or misconduct against him. He accused the BJP of "using" the central agency to stop his ongoing mass outreach campaign as the saffron party was "afraid of the public support" for the programme. 

"I will not bow my head before anyone apart from the masses. The BJP is afraid of the public support for the mass outreach campaign. CBI has summoned me, as they (BJP) want this mass outreach campaign to stop," the MP said while addressing a road show here. 

Standing atop a vehicle, the TMC's national general secretary thanked people fort heir "overwhelming love and support".

"I dare the CBI to arrest me if they have any proof of corruption against me. They have been probing many cases in Bengal for the last several years. They should arrest me if they have any proof against me," he said. 

Banerjee said he has temporarily suspended his mass outreach campaign - Trinamool Nabojowar (Trinamool New Wave), to join the probe and will resume it again from Bankura on Monday