West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee launched a fierce attack on the central government on Friday, strongly condemning the detention of her party's Members of Parliament during a protest in the national capital.
Banerjee's Sharp Rebuke on Social Media
In a series of pointed posts on social media, Banerjee described the police action as an assault on democracy and a blatant display of "arrogance in uniform." The protest was held outside the Union Home Ministry office in Delhi. The TMC chief accused the BJP-led central government of systematically suppressing dissent and publicly humilitating elected representatives for simply exercising their democratic right to protest.
"Dragging elected representatives on the streets for protesting outside the Home Minister’s office is not law enforcement," Banerjee asserted. She added a powerful retort, "This is a democracy, not the BJP’s private property." Her comments highlighted the escalating tensions between the opposition party and the ruling dispensation at the Centre.
The Context of the Protest and Allegations of Bias
The TMC MPs were detained by Delhi Police while protesting against what they call the politically motivated misuse of central investigative agencies. The demonstration was directly linked to recent searches conducted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) connected to the political consultancy firm I-PAC.
Banerjee alleged a clear double standard in how political protests are handled. She claimed that while BJP leaders are often afforded privileges and leniency, opposition MPs are met with immediate force and detention. "When opposition MPs raise their voices, they are dragged, detained and humiliated," she wrote, adding that this approach exposes the BJP's idea of democracy where obedience is valued over dissent.
A Strong Warning and the Road Ahead
Issuing a stern warning, the Chief Minister stated that respect in a democratic framework must be a two-way street. "You respect us, we respect you. You drag us on the road, and we will drag you back to the constitutional idea of tolerance, dissent and democratic morality," she declared. Banerjee firmly asserted that no government or individual in power has the authority to unilaterally decide who is deserving of dignity.
This incident is part of a broader pattern of accusations from the TMC, which has repeatedly charged the Centre with weaponising agencies like the ED and CBI to intimidate and harass political opponents. The BJP has consistently denied these allegations. In response to Friday's events, the Trinamool Congress has announced plans to continue its protests on this issue, both in West Bengal and at the national level, signalling a prolonged political confrontation.
