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    Stung by Madan Mitra's arrest, Mamata Banerjee ‘links’ PM Narendra Modi to Sahara scam

    Synopsis

    While Mamata went hammer and tongs at Modi, TMC supporters stormed into the Alipore court compound, broke police cordons and damaged the vehicle that brought Mitra to court.

    TNN
    (This story originally appeared in on Dec 14, 2014)
    KOLKATA: Bristling at the arrest of transport minister Madan Mitra, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee launched a virulent attack against Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, linking him with the Sahara scam, and rousing crestfallen cadres to hit the streets in retaliation.

    Looking for a platform to launch her missiles at Modi, Mamata made a surprise appearance at a dharna held by sportspersons and club members opposite Eden Gardens just as it was winding down. It quickly turned into a full-blown political rally as Trinamool biggies like Partha Chatterjee, Firhad Hakim, Arup Biswas and mayor Sovan Chatterjee stood behind Didi as a wall of support.

    Mamata wondered if being photographed with an offender was ground enough for arrest. "There are photographs of the Prime Minister with Sahara boss who is currently in jail. Will you arrest the PM?" she asked.

    Just then, her nephew and Trinamool youth wing chief Abhishek Banerjee fished out a photo on his smartphone and showed it to the CM. An excited Mamata waved the phone at the crowd and immediately directed Arup Biswas to "blow up the photograph and paste 10 lakh posters all over Kolkata and Delhi". The crowd cheered.

    While Mamata went hammer and tongs at Modi, Trinamool supporters stormed into the Alipore court compound, broke police cordons and damaged the vehicle that brought Mitra to court. Road and train blockades erupted across the state, giving away the ruling party's frayed nerves at the CBI crackdown.

    The chief minister also backed Trinamool Rajya Sabha MP Srinjoy Bose, who is in jail custody in the Saradha scam. "Can you imagine they slapped criminal conspiracy charge against Tumpai (Bose) who is so gentle that he can't even slap anybody?" said Mamata. The crowd roared in agreement.

    However, she did not utter suspended Trinamool MP Kunal Ghosh's name, who is also in jail in connection with the scam.

    Targeting those hounding the Trinamool, she said, "Had I not been in the government, I would have cut off their tongue." In the same breath, she took a dig at those who criticize her language. "CBI is a front organization of BJP, RSS and Bajrang Dal. Those who should have been in jail for riots and murder are now ruling the country. What will happen when you are not in power tomorrow?" Mamata said.

    She said she would not appoint a Mitra successor. "Madan will resume charge once he returns. Till then, I will hold additional charge of his portfolios," said Mamata.

    When the dharna started, former footballers Shyam Thapa, Bidesh Bose, Prasanta Banerjee and Goutam Sarkar, ace shooter Mampi Das and other sportspersons called Mitra's arrest "unjust". Many of them echoed Mamata's charge that it was "political vendetta" by the Centre. "I can't believe this can be Madan Mitra's fate, a person who has always helped and encouraged sportspersons. I am not into politics, but I'm with the sports minister," said Thapa.

    After the CM's rabblerousing speech, exhorting a 5,000-strong crowd to hit the streets, BJP state chief Rahul Sinha issued a two-sentence press statement: "Only sportspersons belonging to the Trinamool joined today's protest. I thank others who heeded my appeal and stayed away from it." On Friday, he had urged CBI to identify the participants of the sportspersons' dharna because "only those who benefited from Saradha would join the protest."


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