Days after eight opposition parties wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleging misuse of central investigating agencies to target political opponents in the aftermath of Manish Sisodia’s arrest, Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar claimed that the Opposition is coming together as they are scared of being probed in corruption cases.
At a press conference held in BJP’s West Bengal headquarters on Friday, Majumdar alleged that the Opposition came together under the leadership of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in order to put political pressure and manipulate the outcome of the investigation being conducted by probe agencies like Central Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate.
“Opposition parties wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. These leaders wrote to the PM against the CBI and ED investigation alleging biases. I think that this entire initiation has been done under the inspiration of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee. CBI, ED is doing investigations against corruption, scams and to escape that these parties have come together in a Syndicate. Further, they are creating mental as well as political pressure so that the investigation can be manipulated.”
“Our question to them is, is it like they don’t want an investigation against the coal scam, cow smuggling scam, or liquor scam? Are they demanding that these leaders and political figures who are involved here in these corruptions should not be brought to book?” he questioned.
The press conference was part of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s plan to counter the allegations of “misuse of central agencies” made by opposition parties. The BJP will hold nine such press conferences in nine states.
In a move that showcases opposition unity, nine opposition leaders including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi complaining about the centre’s “blatant misuse of central agencies”.
“The manner in which prominent members of the opposition have been targeted lends credence to the allegation that your government is using investigating agencies to target or eliminate the opposition,” the letter reads.
However, Congress, which dreams to lead a united opposition but shares a fractured relationship with some key opposition parties, including the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Trinamool Congress (TMC), was conspicuous by its absence.
The letter was written by leaders of AAP, TMC, RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal), BRS (Bharat Rashtra Samithi), Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC), Shiv Sena (UBT), Samajwadi Party (SP) and NCP (National Congress Party).