JOIN USWest Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is expected here on Wednesday ostensibly to call on President Pranab Mukherjee who underwent coronary angioplasty recently.
But her visit may see the Trinamool Congress intensify its agitation inside and outside Parliament against the Centre following the arrest of state minister Madan Mitra in the Saradha scam.
On Tuesday, Trinamool Congress MPs continued their campaign in Parliament against what they alleged to be “political vendetta” by BJP following the arrest of Mitra.
They staged a walkout in the Lok Sabha again on Tuesday, saying the CBI is being misused. The government said it was ready to discuss the issue. “We have nothing to do with the CBI probe in Saradha chit fund case, which is being monitored by the Supreme Court. We are ready to discuss it,” said Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu.
Trinamool Congress leader Saugata Roy raised the issue during Zero Hour, alleging that the CBI was being “politically manipulated by the BJP to weaken the West Bengal government.”
As BJP MPs stood up to protest the allegation, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan asked another member to speak. Upset over not being allowed to continue, Roy and his party colleagues raised slogans and walked out in protest.
After they walked out, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu criticised the Trinamool Congress members, saying it does not make any sense to disrupt the House everyday as the government was ready for a discussion.
“Let there be a debate on Saradha scam anytime,” the minister said, adding that corruption cannot be hidden by shouting slogans in the House.