PURULIA, 7 Apr: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday alleged that the central investigating agencies are asking TMC leaders to either join the BJP or face action.
Addressing an election rally in Purulia district, she alleged that agencies such as the ED, CBI, NIA and the I-T department are working as “arms” of the BJP.
“Agencies such as the NIA, ED and CBI are being used to harass TMC leaders. They are carrying out raids without prior information, and barging into houses. What would the women do if someone entered their house when everyone was asleep in the dead of night?” she asked.
Banerjee was referring to Saturday’s incident in Bhupatinagar, where a team of the NIA was attacked by a mob when it had gone there to arrest two accused in a blast case.
“The agencies are asking our leaders and activists to either join the BJP or face action,” she alleged.
Asking people not to fall for any provocation, Banerjee alleged that the BJP is fanning communal passions during Ram Navami.
The chief minister also accused the BJP-led government at the Centre of depriving West Bengal of funds for MGNREGA and PM-Awas Yojana.
She said that the state government will provide Rs 1.2 lakh for building houses for the poor.
“The EC will not give permission to us to give the money now. After the elections, we will construct the houses of the poor,” she said. (PTI)