ED, CBI probes won’t damage party, says Mamata Banerjee

Kolkata: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said at a meeting in Buniyadpur of South Dinajpur that the probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the Narada sting operation could not possibly damage her party.

“They threaten me with the CBI and ED daily to put me behind bars. I dare you to send me to jail. I do not care. I do not mind,” Ms Banerjee said, after she inaugurated some projects. “You think you will put all of us behind bars on the pretext of development and the people will spare you! That cannot happen. The people will give you a fitting reply. I survived near-death experiences many times in the past while trying speak of the plight of the people. I also came under attack during the 34-year-rule of the CPI(M),” she added.

Without naming BJP president Amit Shah, who visited the state last week, Ms Banerjee said, “They are now giving us lectures on the culture and ethics of Bengal. They are not the only flag-bearers of Hindutva. Who are they to teach us religion? Where were they before? We do not need to learn anything from them.”

The Trinamul Congress supremo asked the people to shun the BJP’s “communalism.” She added, “I will not allow any communal flare-up in the name of religion here.”

The chief minister announced the building of 1,000 crematoriums in next five years. She also handed over a cheque of Rs 1 lakh to the mother of CRPF jawan Palash Mondal who was killed in a Maoist attack last year in Bihar. She  also provided a job to Mondal’s elder brother.