BJP slams Mamata Banerjee over ED raid row, calls actions unconstitutional

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ravi Shankar Prasad sharpened his attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday. He accused her of unconstitutional and irresponsible conduct. He linked his charge to an Enforcement Directorate raid in Kolkata. The agency searched a private consultancy firm connected to an alleged coal scam.

According to Prasad, the Chief Minister crossed all limits during the operation. He claimed she directly interfered with the probe. He alleged she entered the premises and snatched files from ED officials. He said such conduct damaged the rule of law. He also said it weakened democratic governance.

Prasad spoke to the media soon after reports of the confrontation surfaced. He said the Chief Minister had no authority to intervene in an ongoing investigation. He added that no constitutional post allowed such interference. Therefore, he said, Banerjee’s actions raised serious questions about her respect for institutions.

Moreover, Prasad questioned Banerjee’s alleged links with the consultancy firm under scrutiny. He suggested that her intervention aimed to protect sensitive documents. He said the public deserved answers. He asked why a Chief Minister would rush to a raid site unless something demanded concealment.

Meanwhile, the BJP leader compared Banerjee’s conduct with that of other political figures. He said leaders across parties faced investigations in the past. Yet, he said, they allowed agencies to function. He argued that personal protests or political statements differed from physical interference. Hence, he said, Banerjee’s actions stood apart and alarming.

In addition, Prasad placed the episode in a broader political context. He recalled the Sharda chit fund scam. He said that case exposed deep-rooted corruption in West Bengal. He also mentioned Sandeshkhali. He said repeated allegations from that region reflected administrative failure. Through these examples, he claimed a pattern had emerged.

Furthermore, Prasad accused the Trinamool Congress government of shielding the corrupt. He said central agencies faced resistance whenever they probed cases in the state. He argued that the ED and other bodies acted under legal mandates. He stressed that state governments must cooperate, not confront.

At the same time, Prasad referred to developments outside West Bengal. He cited the framing of charges against Lalu Prasad Yadav in the land-for-job scam. He said courts handled that matter through due process. He added that no Chief Minister or leader disrupted investigations there. Thus, he said, democratic norms prevailed.

Prasad also rejected claims of political vendetta. He said agencies acted on evidence, not instructions. He urged leaders to challenge cases in court, not on the streets. He said public faith in democracy depended on institutional respect.

Finally, Prasad warned of dangerous precedents. He said interference by a Chief Minister threatened federal balance. He said it sent a wrong signal to officers performing lawful duties. He urged Banerjee to explain her actions to the people of West Bengal.

In conclusion, the BJP leader said democracy survived on restraint and accountability. He said no one stood above the law. He added that power carried responsibility. Therefore, he demanded adherence to constitutional limits and respect for investigative processes.