New Delhi [भारत]July 5 (ANI): Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kirti Azad on Sunday alleged that central investigative agencies are being used to intimidate opposition political leaders, amid the ongoing political controversy over senior party leader Chandrima Bhattacharya's resignation from all TMC posts.
Speaking to ANI here, Azad claimed that those who refuse to bow down to pressure are being targeted by agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Azad said, "Those who have been in power for years are greedy. Some have committed fraud and malpractices, that is why they are running away now... People are being threatened, intimidated. Those who still deny are being targeted by agencies like ED and CBI."
His comments come a day after Chandrima Bhattacharya resigned from all party posts, causing political turmoil within the Trinamool Congress. Bhattacharya said his decision came following comments by former West Bengal chief minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, who had reportedly accused him of 'handing over the Trinamool building' to the rebel faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee.
Speaking to ANI after his resignation, Bhattacharya said he was deeply hurt by the allegation. He said, "You saw what happened yesterday. There was an incident at Trinamool Bhawan. After that, Mamata ji spoke to me on phone. She told me, 'You handed over Trinamool Bhawan to them.' This made me sad. There was no need to say it."
After Bhattacharya's resignation, Mamata Banerjee took over as state president of her TMC faction.
Meanwhile, senior TMC leader Kalyan Banerjee insisted that the party's strength remains intact. Banerjee told reporters, "Our party will not be weakened by this; it will remain strong. Trinamool Congress workers are with the party because of Mamata Banerjee... The question of who leaves whom is irrelevant. There will be no loss to the party."
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