- Himanta Sarma criticises Mamata Banerjee’s conduct during ED raids in Kolkata
- ED has accused the West Bengal CM of obstructing a lawful investigation
- Sarma says such behaviour may erode public respect for a sitting Chief Minister
- Assam CM calls for governance change in Bengal to curb illegal infiltration
GG News Bureau
Guwahati, 10th Jan: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday sharply attacked West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over her conduct during recent Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids linked to political consultancy firm Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) in Kolkata.
Addressing reporters in Guwahati, Sarma said Banerjee’s behaviour at the raid sites was deeply concerning and could lead to an erosion of public respect for a sitting Chief Minister. “The way she behaves, her conduct at the crime scene, the manner in which she took away official files, and the use of inappropriate language against the Home Minister are deeply concerning. Such actions are likely to erode public respect for her,” he said.
He added that it was “truly unfortunate” if a serving Chief Minister resorts to such actions, including allegedly confiscating files and detaining individuals, calling it beyond what is acceptable in public life.
The remarks came a day after ED searches at the residence of I-PAC chief Pratik Jain and the firm’s office triggered dramatic scenes, with Mamata Banerjee arriving at the raid sites and alleging that the central agency was attempting to seize sensitive Trinamool Congress data ahead of the high-stakes assembly elections.
The ED has maintained that the searches are part of a probe into an alleged multi-crore coal pilferage scam and has accused Banerjee of obstructing a lawful investigation, claiming that she and state police personnel forcibly removed key evidence during the operation.
Sarma also targeted the Mamata Banerjee-led government over the issue of illegal immigration from Bangladesh, asserting that West Bengal needs a change in governance to effectively address the problem.
“It is very important to work extensively in Bengal, and it is necessary for our party to form the government there. Our team in Bengal is very strong; it just needs one opportunity,” he said. He further claimed that while development is progressing in Assam and Tripura, West Bengal has lagged behind due to its failure to tackle illegal infiltration effectively.
He added that adopting the firm approach followed in Assam and Tripura could significantly improve the situation in West Bengal.
