A day after nine people were killed in a cracker factory blast in East Midnapore, Bengal Opposition Leader Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday demanded Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s resignation for having failed to stop loss of lives in such incidents.
Saying that Banerjee — who also retains the police portfolio — was a “failed Home Minister” Adhikari said that “she has no right tocontinue on her post after having failed to prevent loss of lives in such large numbers owing to blasts throughout the State.” Alleging that the TMC was in collusion with the bomb manufacturers because the panchayat elections were drawing closer Adhikari who also hails from East Midnapore said, “bombs were manufactured in this illegal factory… (because) Panchayat elections are near… TMC and the factory owner Bhanu Bagh are colluding… He is a local TMC leader and was Panchayat Member from 2013-18. He has received protection from Mamata Banerjee.” Alleging that the Chief Minister had failed to discharge her duty as the Home Minister the BJP leader said that “she should immediately step down owing responsibility.”
Demanding an investigation by the National Investigation Agency, Adhikari said after visiting the spot that instead of paying Rs 2.5 lakh to the next to the kin who had died in the blast Banerjee should have paid Rs 10 lakh each. The BJP leader earlier filed a petition in the Calcutta High Court seeking an order for an NIA investigation into the case. Adhikari also branded the ruling Trinamool Congress as a “party of thieves.” He said “all in the TMC are thieves … the party raises money from illegal sources … they have taken Rs 300 crore from the Dear Lottery,” adding Banerjee had been exposed before the people of Bengal and her party would evaporate in thin air in the coming elections.