ED summons Abhishek Banerjee on October 3, same day TMC is slated to hold protests in Delhi

The “coincidence” of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) summons to Trinamool national general secretary and MP Abhishek Banerjee on October 3 — the day the party scheduled an agitation in Delhi — has triggered a wave of fury against the Union government.

The ED has asked Banerjee to appear before it in connection with an ongoing investigation on the teachers’ recruitment scam case.

The Trinamool Congress has planned an agitation in the national capital on October 3 against the Centre’s decision to freeze funds to West Bengal for welfare schemes.

The Trinamool, which is already on the boil has caught on to the latest “coincidence” to make a splash with media bytes and on social media, claiming that there is a political intent behind the summons on those days which have been important for the party.

“It is not at all surprising that the date is the 3rd of October because All India Trinamool Congress has planned a protest to fight for the rights of the people of Bengal… in Delhi... The Enforcement Directorate has repeatedly proved that it is working on the central government’s agenda… It is crystal clear that ED is being used, abused, and misused by the BJ Party to stop the I.N.D.I.A alliance. But I believe in 2024, people of India will speak…,” Sushmita Dev, former Trinamool MP, said.

Taking to X, Banerjee stated, “This stark revelation unequivocally exposes those who are truly perturbED, rattlED and scarED!”

Earlier in September, Banerjee’s date of appearance (in connection with the ongoing probe) before ED had coincided with the day of the meeting of I.N.D.I.A in Delhi. “I dutifully appeared and complied with the served summons,” Banerjee said.

“BJP is misusing the central investigative agencies,” a visual of Banerjee tweeted by the Trinamool’s official X-handle, quoted him as saying. Other Trinamool leaders also took to social media in his support.

Meanwhile, preparation is in full swing to take MGNREGA beneficiaries, allegedly deprived of their rights, to Delhi for the protest. Over 3,000 rural job workers from different districts will reach Kolkata on Friday.

Arrangements are being made for their stay at Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata.