Abhishek Banerjee Accuses ED of Political Data Theft in I-PAC Raid
Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee launched a sharp attack on the Enforcement Directorate on Monday. He accused the central agency of conducting a raid on I-PAC offices with the sole purpose of stealing political information. Banerjee made these allegations during a conclave of the party's digital volunteers called 'Ami Banglar Digital Joddha'.
ED Raid Called Political Espionage Ahead of 2026 Elections
Banerjee claimed the ED's objective was not genuine investigation. He said the agency wanted to appropriate TMC's internal data to help the Bharatiya Janata Party settle political scores. The TMC leader specifically referenced the upcoming 2026 assembly elections in his criticism. This marks the first time Banerjee has directly accused the ED of attempting political information theft.
The TMC leader questioned the timing and selectivity of the raid. He noted the coal scam case that supposedly prompted the investigation is more than three years old. Banerjee pointed out that the ED had not summoned anyone related to this case during all this time. "They can come, but their purpose was information theft," Banerjee alleged forcefully.
Selective Targeting Raises Questions About Investigation Intent
Banerjee raised several pointed questions about the raid's methodology. He questioned why the ED targeted only the Kolkata-based director when I-PAC has three directors operating from Kolkata, Hyderabad and Delhi. "If the investigation is genuine, why were offices and residences in other states not searched?" Banerjee asked the gathering of digital volunteers.
The TMC leader further questioned the logic behind raiding the organization's office. "If the case is against one director, why target the office? This is meant to create an impression that the organisation itself is guilty," Banerjee alleged. He insisted the raid was designed to create a political narrative against the ruling party rather than pursue legitimate investigative goals.
TMC Leader Compares Party Structure to Indian Armed Forces
In a bid to motivate workers ahead of upcoming elections, Banerjee offered a striking comparison. He likened the party's organizational structure to the three wings of India's armed forces. Banerjee described grassroots workers responsible for booth-level activities, campaigning, and organizing rallies as the army of the party.
He identified party representatives who fight for people in Parliament and courts as the navy. This group includes Banerjee himself. The TMC leader then described social media volunteers as the air force. He said their task involves countering misinformation and promoting the party's narratives online using data and logic.
Banerjee Takes Aim at PM Modi's Social Media Strategy
Banerjee launched a direct attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his address. He called the Prime Minister the nation's biggest content creator. "His entire move is based on PR and content," Banerjee claimed. The TMC leader contrasted this with his own approach, noting he doesn't spend much time on social media despite having screen time exceeding 10-12 hours daily.
Banerjee urged skilled communicators within the party to highlight attempts to attack Bengal's culture. "Not everything needs to be politicized," he emphasized. The TMC leader referenced historical precedent, noting Lord Curzon stepped back from dividing Bengal in 1905. "He bowed down to Bengal's strength. Can PM Modi-led government really break the same Bengal?" Banerjee asked provocatively.
TMC Expands Digital Outreach Through Multiple Platforms
Banerjee detailed the party's expanding digital presence during his address. He mentioned the 'Didir Doot' app along with presence on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp channels, and X platform. The TMC leader encouraged volunteers to connect through these channels for direct communication.
This conclave represents the largest gathering of its kind for the party's digital volunteers. Banerjee recalled the first such event in 2018 was much smaller. He promised future conclaves would be even bigger, possibly at Netaji Indoor Stadium with around 20,000 participants. "I'll keep in touch with you," Banerjee assured the volunteers as he concluded his address.
