Kolkata: The Opposition parties on Tuesday hailed the Supreme Court’s blow to the Mamata Banerjee government for challenging the Calcutta high court’s order of a CBI probe in Narada sting operation.
Welcoming the top court’s judgment state BJP president Dilip Ghosh demanded the chief minister’s resignation. He claimed, “Ms Banerjee is trying to save her government’s ministers and her party leaders accused of taking money. Like Saradha, huge amount of public money are spent to fight the Narada case. We feel that the chief minister alongwith her ‘tainted ministers’ must step down immediately. She is trying to support those who were caught taking money in the sting operation.”
Mr Ghosh announced that the BJP will take out a rally demanding resignation of Ms Banerjee and her “tainted ministers” before meeting governor Keshari Nath Tripathi to demand the Trinamul government’s dismissal from power.
“It’s a matter of deep shame for the Trinamul government that its appeal was rejected by the apex court which also asked it to tender unconditional apology,” he added.
He argued, “The state government suffered a huge loss of face in the Calcutta high court and the Supreme Court. This will affect state politics. The Trinamul government’s condition will deteriorate. I wonder if this government will be able to complete its full term.”
Leader of the Opposition Abdul Mannan pointed out that the state government and the ruling party were desperate to save the tainted leaders. “The SC ruling is a massive win for the democratic values in our country,” he noted.
CPI(M) state secretary Surya Kanta Mishra said, “We welcome the apex court’s verdict which upheld the high court’s order. The fight for the punishment of the accused will continue.” He, however, alleged a nexus between the Trinamul and the BJP contrary to their rivalry. “Why was not a single meeting of the Lok Sabha ethics committee convened in the past 11 months? We expect the CBI to work freely without any interference from the BJP,” he said.
Forward Bloc state secretary Naren Chatterjee questioned who gave the state government the right to spend the public money to fight cases to protect the leaders of the ruling party. He alleged, “The government is paying fees to the lawyers from its exchequer. Did the accused persons get involved in the corruption in connivance with state government?”
