Kolkata: Tensions have escalated in West Bengal following the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) raids on the offices of the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC), led by Chief Pratik Jain. In response to these actions, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has spearheaded protests and rallies against the ED’s activities, which have sparked significant unrest within the state. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders vociferously condemned the central government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during these protests.
During the rally, Chief Minister Banerjee was joined by party leaders, ministers, and Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), all united in their opposition to the ED’s operations. Earlier, TMC MPs also staged a protest outside the office of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, denouncing the raids and accusing the government of politically motivated actions. TMC leaders have heavily criticized Shah, claiming that the ED is being used as a weapon against political adversaries.
As the TMC leaders expressed their dissent outside Shah’s residence, police intervened, taking them away from the protest area. TMC leaders refuted the police’s actions, asserting that they had been conducting their protests peacefully. During the demonstrations, prominent TMC MPs, including Mahua Moitra, Shatabdi Roy, Kirti Azad, and Derek O’Brien, voiced their concerns about the police’s treatment of the protesting MPs, which they said was evident to all observers.
O’Brien and Moitra remarked, “The manner in which the police have dealt with the MPs is visible to everyone.” They added that democratic protests are increasingly being suppressed, while rewards are being given to criminals. They accused the government of using investigative agencies as tools to manipulate elections. “Dissenters are being jailed while rapists are granted bail. This is the BJP’s policy, and the people of Bengal will not accept it. We will do everything in our power to defeat you,” stated Abhishek Banerjee on Twitter.
The ED’s raids on the I-PAC office in Kolkata have led to further political ramifications, with the agency reportedly questioning the legitimacy of the protests aimed at obstructing their operations. This situation has compelled I-PAC to approach the Kolkata High Court for intervention regarding the ED’s actions.
As the political chaos unfolds, the atmosphere in Kolkata remains charged with emotion and dissent. The TMC’s vocal opposition to the ED’s raids reflects a deepening divide between the state government and the central authorities, as political tensions continue to simmer in West Bengal. The outcomes of these protests and the ED’s ongoing investigations could have profound implications for the state’s political landscape in the coming months.
