Mamata Banerjee Vs CBI: West Bengal CM Calls Off Dharna After Supreme Court Judgment, Hits Out at PM Narendra Modi
Describing her dharna a victory for democracy and the Constitution, Mamata Banerjee called off the protest.
Kolkata/New Delhi, February 5: The unprecedented stand-off between the Narendra Modi government and the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal ended on Tuesday hours after the Supreme Court verdict in a CBI plea against Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar. Describing her dharna a victory for democracy and the Constitution, Mamata Banerjee called off the protest.
"This dharna (Save the Constitution) is a victory for the Constitution and democracy, so, let us end it today," Banerjee told a gathering. She said the apex court delivered a positive judgment and vowed to continue her fight on the national level. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief further hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and demanded his resignation. "One man government, one party government is there," she said.
Earlier today, Banerjee welcomed the Supreme Court verdict in a CBI plea against Rajeev Kumar and described the order to the CBI not to arrest him a "moral victory". The apex court directed Kumar to appear before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the Saradha cheat fund case at a "mutual place" and asked the agency not to take any coercive action against the officer, including arrest.
"Rajeev Kumar never said he would not cooperate. He gave five letters to the CBI asking the officials to meet him at a mutual place but they went to his house to arrest him in a secret operation. Today the court said no arrest... We welcome the verdict. It will strengthen the morale of the officials," Banerjee said.
On Sunday, a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) team that went to question Kumar at his residence in the Saradha chit fund case was allegedly roughed up and detained by the Kolkata Police, triggering a political slugfest between the Centre and the West Bengal government. Banerjee had started a sit-in protest against the 'anarchic moves' of the Narendra Modi government to 'destroy democracy'.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 05, 2019 06:38 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).