New Delhi [India], July 5 (ANI): Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kirti Azad on Sunday alleged that central investigative agencies were being used to intimidate opposition political leaders, amid the ongoing political controversy surrounding the resignation of senior party leader Chandrima Bhattacharya from all TMC posts.
Speaking to ANI here, Azad claimed that those who refused to yield to pressure were being targeted by agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
“Those who have been in power for years are greedy. Some have engaged in fraud and misconduct, which is why they are now fleeing… People are being threatened, intimidated. Those who still refuse are being targeted with agencies like the ED and CBI,” Azad said.
His remarks come a day after Chandrima Bhattacharya resigned from all party positions, triggering political turmoil within the Trinamool Congress.
Bhattacharya said her decision was prompted by remarks made by former West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, who allegedly accused her of “handing over” the Trinamool Bhavan to the Ritabrata Banerjee-led rebel faction.
Speaking to ANI after her resignation, Bhattacharya said she was deeply hurt by the allegation.
“You saw what happened yesterday. An incident happened at Trinamool Bhavan. After that, Mamata ji spoke to me over the phone. She told me, ‘You handed over Trinamool Bhavan to them.’ This hurt me. There was no need to say this,” she said.
Following Bhattacharya’s resignation, Mamata Banerjee assumed the post of the state president of her TMC faction.
Meanwhile, senior TMC leader Kalyan Banerjee asserted that the party’s strength is intact.
“Our party will not be weakened by it; it will remain strong. Trinamool Congress workers are with the party because of Mamata Banerjee… the question of who leaves whom is irrelevant. The party will suffer no harm,” Banerjee told reporters. (ANI)