West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s dharna on the CBI-Kolkata Police issue echoed in Parliament on Monday leading to disruption and adjournment of proceedings of both the Houses even as Home Minister Rajnath Singh termed the developments in West Bengal as “unprecedented” and asserting that the Centre has powers to take action.
Almost the entire Opposition, including the Congress, the BJD, the NCP, the SP and the RJD backed the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha protesting against the alleged misuse of the CBI by the NDA Government in connection with the developments in West Bengal. The TMC claimed there was a crisis in the State and the Centre was “misusing” the CBI to politically capture the State.
In the Lok Sabha, amid noisy protests by TMC members, the Home Minister said it was “unprecedented” that the CBI was stopped from lawfully doing its duty when it wanted to question Kolkata Police chief Rajeev Kumar regarding chit fund scams on Sunday.
Earlier, Opposition parties in the Lok Sabha took the Government to task over the alleged misuse of central agencies against political rivals, saying it was against democratic norms. Trinamool Congress leader Saugata Roy said there is a crisis in West Bengal and that the Centre was “misusing” the CBI to politically capture the State.
While alleging that the Centre was “constantly using the CBI to throttle the Opposition,” Roy said the party is strongly protesting with all forces at its command. BJD leader B Mahtab said the incident smacks of impropriety and also questions the integrity of the CBI. “We are not a banana republic...,” he said, adding the CBI is becoming a “political stooge and political weapon” in the hands of the Centre.
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge charged that the Government was using the CBI as a weapon to finish the Opposition and put in place an autocratic regime. Kharge said such things have happened not only in West Bengal but also in Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. NCP leader Supriya Sule said her party is condemning the CBI for allegedly using its muscle power against a woman chief minister.
Dharmendra Yadav (SP) and Jaiprakash Narayan Yadav (RJD) also spoke against the Centre. CPM member Badaruddoza Khan said both the Trinamool Congress and the Centre were at fault, adding the CBI did not take action during the last four years. Saumitra Khan, who won on a Trinamool Congress ticket and had recently joined the BJP, also spoke.
The Rajya Sabha witnessed similar scenes with proceedings adjourned amid din by the Trinamool Congress. As soon as the House assembled for the day, slogan shouting by TMC members on the issue resulted in adjournment of the House till 2 pm. The same situation prevailed when the House resumed in the afternoon.
Derek O’Brien (TMC) had moved a notice for discussion on the issue, but Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said the TMC leader can raise this issue during Zero Hour as also during motion of thanks to President’s Address. The entire Opposition protested and the TMC members trooped into the well of the house. This happened in the pre-lunch and post-lunch session forcing Naidu to the adjourn the House for the day.
In the LS, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Narendra Singh Tomar made a plea to agitating members to go back to their seats, stating it was time for motion of thanks on the President’s address.
Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said as the CBI matter is already in the Supreme Court, the court should be allowed to take a call. The Speaker allowed Trinamool Congress leader Saugata Roy to speak about the incident in Kolkata.