Mamata being intimidated for opposing policies, says Arvind Kejriwal

New Delhi: Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday vociferously extended his support to his West Bengal counterpart, Mamata Banerjee, over her protest against the Army’s presence at toll plazas by accused the Centre of trying to intimidate her as she was “strongly” opposing the Prime Minister’s “wrong policies”.

“Mamataji is raising her voice strongly against Modiji’s wrong policies. Army personnel would not have been deployed there if she had praised Modiji. By deploying Army (at toll plazas), the Centre is trying to intimidate her, but Mamataji is not afraid of such move. I want to tell Mamataji that the entire country and I are with you. Keep up the fight,” he said.

The issue of the Army’s presence at toll plazas in West Bengal kicked up a storm with Mamata Banerjee remaining at the state secretariat overnight in protest, asking was it an “Army coup”, a remark that invited a sharp condemnation today from the Centre which said it showed her “political frustration”.

On Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan asking AAP MP Bhagwant Mann not to attend the House for a week, Mr Kejriwal wanted to know if the Prime Minister “endangered” national security by “inviting an ISI team to probe the Pathankot terror attack or Mr Mann posed a security threat by making a video of Parliament”.

He also attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over recent decisions on holding gold jewellery by expressing apprehensions that I-T department will raid “every household” and “search” almirah and that especially women will face a lot of problems. He alleged the Centre was trying to “instil fear” among people while claiming the move would only promote “inspector raj” in the country.

Seeking to quell rumours, the Centre on Thursday said there is no limit on legitimate holding of gold jewellery.