During an election rally in South Dinajpur district's Balurghat, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee made serious allegations against the National Investigation Agency (NIA), asserting that it was the agency's officials who instigated violence in Bhupatinagar village of East Midnapore district, rather than the villagers initiating the attack.
Banerjee contended that the NIA personnel forcefully entered numerous homes during the early hours under the pretext of investigating a "cracker-bursting incident from 2022." She defended the villagers' actions as acts of self-defense, questioning the rationale behind the NIA's late-night visits and implying that any group would naturally retaliate when faced with such intrusion.
The NIA, on its part, reported the arrest of two individuals suspected to be key conspirators in a 2022 blast case, amidst facing an assault by a crowd in East Medinipore district. An NIA officer sustained injuries, and one of the agency's vehicles was damaged in the incident, prompting the team to file a complaint at the Bhupatinagar police station.
Banerjee alleged political motives behind the NIA's actions, suggesting that the arrests were timed to intimidate workers of her party, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), ahead of the upcoming polls. She criticized the central government, particularly the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), for allegedly exploiting central agencies to gain electoral advantage.
Expressing her dissatisfaction with the Election Commission's handling of the situation, Banerjee questioned the impartiality of the transfers of state police officers and the lack of changes in personnel from agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and Income Tax department.
Accusing these agencies of being aligned with the BJP's interests, Banerjee emphasized the need for fair play in elections and condemned the arrests of opposition leaders by central agencies on various charges.
In terms of healthcare initiatives, Banerjee defended her decision not to implement the Ayushman Bharat scheme in Bengal, citing her administration's comprehensive 'Sasthya Sathi' program, which provides healthcare coverage to nine crore people. She asserted that her government had introduced several welfare schemes targeting different demographics, such as Kanyashree for girls, Sikshasree for education, and various pension schemes.
Banerjee reiterated her commitment to the welfare of the people, contrasting it with what she perceived as empty promises made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She highlighted her administration's efforts to provide housing for storm-affected individuals in Jalpaiguri district, expressing frustration over bureaucratic delays.
Regarding the issue of land grab in Sandeshkhali, Banerjee assured that her government was taking action against the culprits and returning land to the affected villagers. She criticized BJP's West Bengal state president Sukanta Majumdar for allegedly neglecting the state's interests and opposing the release of central funds.
In her closing remarks, Banerjee rallied support for TMC candidate Biplab Deb, underscoring the need to hold accountable those responsible for crimes against women in BJP-ruled states.
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