Mamata Banerjee distances TMC from Saradha row

Distancing herself from leaders allegedly involved in the Saradha chit fund scam, chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday made it clear that her party was in no way responsible for the sins of individuals.

“If someone steals, then that individual is a thief not the party,” she said while addressing a rally at Howrah’s Amta. Ms Banerjee, who is known for her austere lifestyle, once again made it clear that she did not want materialistic wealth. “I do not need a house, a car or land,” she added. Ms Banerjee even sought to drive home the point that her party had come to occupy the political centrestage through long struggle and hard work.

Although she did not mention any names, the Opposition immediately jumped to the conclusion that unnerved by his re-arrest she was trying to drop former state minister Madan Mitra like a hot potato. “She has merely indulged in a damage control exercise before the next Assembly election,” CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty said.

BJP national secretary and co-minder of Bengal unit Siddharth Nath Singh said that Ms Banerjee ma-de the statement because she had realised that the CBI net was closing in on her party leaders. “Moreover, this is an admission that her party leaders were involved in the Saradha scam,” he claimed.

A few days ago, Ms Banerjee had accused the Centre of using the CBI to stop her from raising her voice against the rising intolerance in the country.