The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a sharp attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday, alleging that her dramatic personal intervention during Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids at the offices of the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) is a clear sign she has significant secrets to hide. The raids are part of an ongoing money laundering investigation.
Unprecedented Move by a Chief Minister
BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra emphasized the unusual nature of the incident, stating it was likely a first in India's history that a sitting Chief Minister physically entered the scene of an active ED probe. Patra accused Mamata Banerjee of allegedly attempting to destroy and steal evidence during her intervention. He described the act as "extremely condemnable" and a serious breach of protocol.
Allegations of Using State Machinery
Going a step further, the BJP spokesperson alleged that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo used the state police force to execute her intent. "Mamata used Bengal police to carry out her intent," Patra claimed, suggesting an abuse of power and state machinery to obstruct a central agency's investigation. This accusation forms the core of the BJP's offensive against the Chief Minister.
Link to Past Corruption Allegations
To bolster its claims, the BJP recalled past statements from within the TMC itself. Patra referenced comments made by Madan Mitra, a TMC MLA and former state minister, who had allegedly linked I-PAC to corruption back in 2025. By invoking this internal criticism, the BJP aims to paint a picture of longstanding questionable associations, implying the current ED probe has substantial basis.
The political confrontation underscores the intense and ongoing friction between the BJP-led central government and the TMC government in West Bengal. The ED's probe into I-PAC, a political consultancy that has worked with TMC in the past, and the direct involvement of the Chief Minister, has escalated tensions, setting the stage for a major political battle. The BJP's statements frame the incident not just as political obstruction, but as an act indicative of guilt and a desperate attempt to prevent secrets from being revealed to the public and investigating agencies.
