CBI vs Mamata: Opposition Backs Didi, BJP Questions Her Dharna

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman hit out at West Bengal government, saying the CBI was only doing its job.

Image used for representational purposes.

(Photo: Kamran Akhter / The Quint)

Union Minister Prakash Javadekar slammed the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday, 4 January, questioning her motive behind staging the dharna.

“We want to ask Mamata Banerjee why is she staging dharna. Who does she want to shield? Police Commissioner or herself?”

Prakash Javadekar, Union Minister

He alleged that the Opposition parties were divided by vision but was “united by corruption.”

“Opposition parties have supported Mamata Banerjee. Who are these people? They are out on bail. Such people are standing together. This is not Mahagathbandhan, they are divided by vision and united by corruption. The corrupt are standing together.”

Prakash Javadekar, Union Minister

Catch all the live updates on the CBI vs TMC crisis here.

The BJP had earlier slammed the West Bengal government after Kolkata Police stopped the CBI from questioning its chief, accusing it of making a mockery of governance, democracy and constitutional propriety.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman asserted that the agency was simply doing its job.

“The CBI has got to do its job or not? When CBI does it, it’s political vendetta, when it doesn’t do it, it is a caged parrot. Let them make up their minds.”

Nirmala Sitharaman, Defence Minister

An all-out war broke out between the Centre and the Mamata Banerjee government on Sunday, with the feisty West Bengal leader beginning a sit-in protest at a city landmark over the CBI's attempt to question the Kolkata Police chief in connection with chit fund scams, insisting it stifled the spirit of "Constitution and federalism".

In a dramatic showdown with the Modi government, a furious Banerjee, wrapped in a brown woollen shawl, began a sit-in right in front of the Metro Cinema to protest "insults" she faced at the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP Chief Amit Shah, hours after a CBI team that had gone to question Rajeev Kumar was detained in a rare face-off between the police establishments of the Centre and the state.

‘WB Govt Assaulted the Constitution’

The party said the state government's action is a direct assault on the constitutional scheme of things and reflects dictatorial streak of the chief minister.

“The development in Kolkata and the resistance to the CBI investigation is bizarre, unprecedented and reflect Banerjee’s dictatorial attitude. She has violated the very Constitution she had sworn by,” party spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao said.

Noting that the CBI has been probing the chit fund scams on the Supreme Court's order, he said the city police's action amounts to disrespect and disobedience to the apex court.

‘Total Collapse of Law & Order’

Nalin Kohli, another BJP spokesperson, described the situation in the state as unprecedented and said it is an indication of "total collapse" of law and order.

Never before a premier investigation agency like the CBI has been stopped from doing its work, which is working under the court's direction.

“It is clear that the state government under Mamata Banerjee has lost sight of all constitutional propriety. People can see what a mockery of governance, democracy and constitutional propriety is taking place,” Kohli said.

Drama Orchestrated by BJP & TMC: Sitaram Yechury

The Communist Party of India - Marxist (CPI(M)) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, on the other hand, hit out at both TMC and BJP, calling it a ‘staged drama’ to protect the corrupt.

Opposition Calls it an ‘Attack on Democracy’

From Congress to AAP, DMK and TDP in the south, Opposition parties expressed solidarity with Banerjee, over West Bengal’s tussle with the CBI and the Modi government.

Applaud Mamata’s Stand Against Tyranny of Central Govt: Raj Thackeray

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena Chief Raj Thackeray also extended his and his party’s support to the West Bengal chief minister.

Thackeray tweeted out an MNS letter saying that the MNS applauds and supports the stand taken by Mamta Banerjee “against the autocracy and tyranny of the Central government.”