Amid reports that the Ministry of Home Affairs could send a notice to Bengal Chief Secretary Alapan Bandopadhyay seeking clarifications as to why the three IPS officers requisitioned on Central deputation were not released by the State Government, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday called the BJP a party of dacoits and slammed it for subverting federal norms.
The three IPS officers --- an IGP, a DIG and an SP-ranked officers --- in question were in charge of BJP national president JP Nadda’s security when his convoy was attacked by alleged Trinamool Congress men on December 10 while he was going to attend a meeting at Diamond Harbour.
“The security remains on high alert whenever there is a VVIP movement … but one has also to explain why there would 50 vehicles in the VVIP’s convoy and why vehicles of criminals including a convicted person should follow him,” Banerjee said at a rally in Jalpaiguri in North Bengal.
Wondering as to why the Central Government would interfere in law and order matters which was exclusively a State subject Banerjee said it went against the federal norms. “The question is why should the Central Home Ministry call IPS officers of a State cadre on deputation without the State’s permission … why the State Government should be coerced to release the said officers,” she asked.
The Bengal Chief Secretary and Director General of Police had skipped an appearance in the Home Ministry after being summoned by it. This apart the State administration also failed to release the three IPS officers --- in charge of Nadda’s security --- called on central deputation.
Raising the pitch of her attack the Chief Minister called the BJP a party of dacoits saying “they always accuse others of corruption and theft but I must say the BJP is the biggest party of thieves… in fact it is a party of dacoits …”
Stopping short of naming leaders like Nadda and his party colleague Kailash Vijabargiya who have Madhya Pradesh connections Banerjee said “truth to be told the BJP is a party of Chambal dacoits who have come to loot Bengal and ravage its unity by creating division among the people of this State.”
Despite being a party of outsiders the BJP won all seats the seats in North Bengal in the 2019 general elections, Banerjee grudgingly told her audience. “They came from outside and won all the seats in North Bengal while TMC did not win a single seat... I want to ask what was our fault … Are they Ramakrishna Paramahansa or Swami Vivekananda … no they are not … they only spread hatred and divide people,” Banerjee said.
Slamming the saffron outfit for giving false employment promises to the people of Bengal, the Chief Minister asked, “on what surety they are distributing employment cards to the people… my question is what will this job card to … what validity it has,” alleging during the BJP’s tenure the national employment had shrunk by 40 percent.
“During their rule employment has shrunk by 40 percent and here they have come with job cards to lure the people. This will not serve any purpose as the people will reject them,” she said.
On Darjeeling Gorkha issue she said “the BJP has been creating divisions not only among religions but also in the Hills by giving false hope to the Gorkha population about the creation of a new Gorkhaland … but the leaders like Bimal Gurung have seen through their ploy and returned to the Trinamool fold after sitting in their lap for six years.”