Armed with the multi-crore Saradha financial scam issue, the Congress and CPM launched attack on the TMC at two separate events here on Sunday.

Congress leaders, holding a convention at Ashutosh College’s Memorial Hall said they would move Supreme Court against state law minister Chandrima Bhattacharya for “contempt of court”.
“We have seen how the (Bengal) law minister disrupted law and order situation to prevent the CBI from carrying out its duties, which the Supreme Court had given out instructions for. We will also demand Bhattacharya’s arrest,” senior Congress leader Abdul Mannan said at the convention.

The party also intended to stage a turnaround with a movement centred around the Saradha scam. “We will have to increase our organisational strength, focussing on the Saradha scam. If need be, we will put up a demonstration in front of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s residence,” Mannan also said.

Congress leader and former MP Deepa Dasmunshi said the present government, along with the chit fund companies, have done unprecedented damage to the people of the state. “No other previous government in the state ever brought about such a calamity on its people,” Dasmunshi said, and added, “There had been a severe government non-cooperation in terms of producing documents regarding the Saradha probe by the CBI.

There are also several irregularities between what the state said it would do and what it is actually doing. The non-cooperation is not possible without the knowledge and patronisation of the CM. She should step down of her post until the CBI inquiry is over,” she added.

Another senior Congress leader Somen Mitra echoed similar views, asking why the CM was so hesitant on a CBI enquiry. “Eyebrows are being raised against the statements of the CM who had claimed to be the epitome of honesty. She should have allowed a CBI enquiry in the first place and clear all doubts of the people but we have seen how she sent her cabinet ministers to prevent the CBI from carrying out its duties,” Mitra said.

Meanwhile, eight Left-backed youth wings, too, put up a meeting at Rani Rashmoni Avenue on Sunday protesting against the Saradha scam and demanding that investors of all chit funds be given back their money. Leader of the Opposition Surya Kanta Mishra said there were about one crore investors in all the chit fund companies. “We had been demanding a probe for a long time. No one should be spared. All responsible should be booked. Those who have been held so far are mere pawns. Many big names would come up in due course,” he said.

Mishra, however, said the CM should not put in her papers. “Let the CBI inquire, summon and interrogate her and then submit a chargesheet. Then she should think of resigning. She should not wash her hands
off it now,” he said, and added that if the (former) Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh) and his close associates can be called in by the CBI for questioning, why can’t the same law be applicable to the Bengal CM? Mishra also alleged that the CM had violated the constitution by sending her law minister to protest against the CBI investigation. “The CM and her ministers are like rats who are gnawing away at democracy, constitution and law and order,” he said.

Indian Express | September 15, 2014

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