Mamata accuses BJP of conspiring to arrest all Oppn leaders before LS polls, launches veiled attack on Suvendu

PTI, Kolkata, Nov 1, 2023 :  West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday hit out at the BJP-led central government, alleging that it was conspiring to arrest all opposition leaders before the next year's Lok Sabha polls and cast votes for themselves in an “empty country”.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been summoned by the ED for questioning in an excise policy-linked money-laundering case on November 2, while several other leaders were also served notices, she said and claimed that phones of opposition party MPs are being hacked.

Banerjee, also the Trinamool Congress supremo, continued with her demand from the Centre to release MGNREGA funds due to West Bengal and extended the November 1 deadline set by her party till November 16.

"Before next year's elections, they (BJP) are trying to gag the voice of all opposition parties. They are planning to arrest all opposition leaders before the polls so that they can vote for themselves in an empty country. They are hatching a conspiracy," Banerjee told reporters at the state secretariat.

On the issue of MGNREGA funds due to the state, she said Governor CV Ananda Bose had promised that he would take up the matter with the Centre.

“Today was the last day, but nothing has happened so far. If the MNEGRA dues are not cleared by November 16, we will declare our next course of action," Banerjee added.

The Trinamool Congress supremo said that on November 15, her party would hold a party meeting at the city's Netaji Indoor Stadium to decide on their next course of action on the issue.

Without naming BJP’s SuvenduAdhikari, who was incharge of important departments during his tenure as cabinet minister in the TMC government, Mamata said: “I will ask my officers to prepare a report on the prices at which land was sold by the Haldia Development Authority and Digha Development Authority. I will ask my officers to find out how some BJP leaders splurge these days.”  

“Are those who demand the arrest of all ministers in Bengal supposed to be sages? Their corruption has touched the sky,” the Chief Minister said, indirectly referring to the recent arrest of former foodminister Jyotipriya Mallick by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the alleged public distribution system scam. 

Adhikari threw a counter challenge at the Chief Minister soon after she raised the allegation. Mamata, who was on "restricted movement" for swelling in her left knee after returning from a 12-day trip to Spain and the UAE, said, "My infection had turned septic due to wrong treatment. I could not move out of my bed for seven days." 

The Chief Minister said that despite her injuries, she had attended office from home. "Despite all these hurdles, I had gone through the papers that reached me from my office every day. I held meetings with various officials," she said.