Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], November 14 (ANI): Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Kunal Ghosh on Saturday accused the police of harassing party leaders and workers by issuing notices and summons, alleging that they were being targeted to divert their attention from politics.
His remarks came after TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee appeared before Kolkata Police earlier in the day in connection with a fresh FIR registered against him. Ghosh said party workers, from the leadership to the grassroots level, were facing similar action.
“The entire Trinamool Congress–all of Mamata Didi’s soldiers, from the top down to the bottom–are being harassed. They are using the police to target Abhishek Banerjee and the rest of us. Our workers and leaders, who are active at the grassroots level, are being summoned by the police, served with notices, subjected to punitive action, and arrested in baseless cases,” Ghosh said, while addressing a press conference.
Questioning the repeated issuance of police notices, the TMC MLA said the party would not be deterred by such action.
“Do they think they can just keep issuing notices at the drop of a hat? Do they believe that by constantly sending police notices and summons–forcing us to appear–they can harass us into shifting our focus away from politics? That will not happen. We are Mamata Didi’s soldiers–from Abhishek Banerjee all the way down to every single one of our workers and colleagues–and we are fully prepared to face this challenge,” he added.
Meanwhile, State Minister Dilip Ghosh, reacting to Abhishek Banerjee’s appearance before the police, said that the TMC MP had faced summons from central agencies in the past as well.
“He has been summoned multiple times by the ED, CBI and others earlier as well. This saga will continue,” he told the media.
Meanwhile, Abhishek Banerjee said he had “nothing to hide” and would appear before the police whenever summoned. He made the remarks after leaving Bhawanipore Police Station, where he appeared in connection with an FIR registered at Girish Park Police Station on October 31 over his alleged remarks against the police. He has been asked to appear before the investigating officer again on November 20.
Speaking to reporters, Banerjee said, “I have nothing to hide. In the past too, whenever they have summoned me, I have gone. If they summon me in the future, I will go. This shows their childishness. They think that if a police notice arrives or a bulldozer runs, I will get scared. I am not one of those who get scared. Use whatever power you have; put all your strength. Put me in jail, strangle me, but this head will not bow before anyone.”
The TMC MP also spoke about the bulldozer action carried out near his residence in Kalighat on November 12, saying the structure removed during the drive had been built by the government and was being used by police personnel. He appealed to the BJP not to displace people whose livelihoods depended on the area.
The latest police notice is among several matters involving Banerjee in recent months. In August, West Bengal Police registered an FIR against Banerjee, TMC MP Derek O’Brien and others over alleged obstruction and assault on police personnel during the removal of an unauthorised hoarding at 9, Camac Street, in Kolkata.
In June, Banerjee appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for questioning in connection with the alleged multi-crore Primary Teachers Recruitment scam in West Bengal. At the time, he said he had appeared before the agency several times and would continue to do so whenever summoned.
Reacting to the summons, Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar had criticised the TMC, alleging that the party had failed to shed its “feudal” mindset even after its electoral defeat.
“There is a saying: Rassi jal gayi, par bal nahi gaya. Even after their defeat, they have yet to realise that their ‘feudal’ (zamindari) mindset has come to an end. Their sole objective is to divide the Hindu community in Bengal and rule over them,” Majumdar said.
BJP leader Keya Ghosh also criticised Banerjee and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing them of issuing threats and asserting that the state was governed by the rule of law.
“This habit of issuing threats is a trait shared by both the aunt and the nephew. Abhishek Banerjee must understand that our state is governed by the rule of law, not by the arbitrary whims of any individual ruler,” she said. (ANI)
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