Saradha scam: Conspiracy on to kill me, says Mamata Banerjee

Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday attacked Trinamool Congress’ arrested MP Kunal Ghosh for criticising her over Saradha chit fund scam, saying his remarks were aimed at “saving” himself.

Banerjee alleged a conspiracy was on to kill her.

Without naming Ghosh, who is jailed in connection with the scam and wanted CBI to question the chief minister along with incarcerated Saradha group chairman Sudipta Sen, Banerjee said “limitless uncultured behaviour is being meted out. He (Ghosh) is saying I should sit face to face. He is an accused lodged in jail. We have arrested him. To save himself, he is saying whatever he wants to. Where is the evidence? There is a distinction between black and white.

“Some people are trying to make a God out of a convict,” she told a local TV channel referring to Ghosh who had recently criticised Banerjee over the chit fund scam.

The Chief Minister alleged a conspiracy was on to kill her and lashed out at a section of the media charging that “a deliberate attempt is being made to control the government for vested interests in land and business. A conspiracy is on to kill even me.

“I won’t be controlled by anybody but only by the masses,” Banerjee said.

“A section of the media is carrying out a malicious campaign against me and my party. Earlier, there was a rule in media houses to judge what is right or wrong. Nowadays even if we send a rejoinder, they do not bother to publish it. Many chit fund companies have started their own media houses,” she said.

She said “neither I nor my party needed money from Saradha (chit fund company). Trinamool is the most transparent party in the country. I paint to raise money for running the party and even for that also, questions are being raised as to whom I am selling my paintings. I am not bound to reply. False campaigns are being made about my meetings,” she said.

“We are neither thieves nor dacoits. To shield the real culprits, lies are being spread against us and abuses are being hurled… there should be a limit to everything. I am still tolerating but that does not mean it is our weakness,” Banerjee said.

PTI