Bengal politics
Amid clash with Centre, Mamata Banerjee speaks to NCP chief Sharad Pawar
Kolkata/IBNS: Amid clash with the Bharatiya Janata Party, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar spoke on Monday to discuss what they called the Centre's attempts to misuse its powers to destabilize opposition-ruled state governments, a senior Maharashtra leader told media.
Nawab Mallik, a spokesperson of Sharad Pawar's NCP, informed media that Mamata Banerjee spoke about how Centre is targeting her government ahead of Assembly Polls in Bengal next year.
"Sharad Pawar and Mamata Banerjee discussed how the BJP is trying to destabilise Bengal, withdrawing government officials at will and infringing into the state's rights. The way the BJP is misusing central agencies is not right," Nawab Mallik told reporters.
"Mamata Banerjee and Sharad Pawar will hold meetings with other national leaders too. Mr Pawar will go to Bengal if needed," he said.
Earlier, the West Bengal Chief Minister, for the second time, slammed the BJP government in the Centre for transferring three IPS officials with the Bengal cadre, who were in charge of BJP chief J.P. Nadda's convoy which was attacked in Diamond Harbour a week ago.
"Centre is brazenly interfering with State Govt functioning by transferring police officers," Mamata Banerjee attacked the Centre in a tweet.
Banerjee also thanked Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel, Punjab CM Capt. Amarinder Singh, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot and DMK President M.K. Stalin for supporting her in the issue.
"My gratitude to @bhupeshbaghel @ArvindKejriwal @capt_amarinder @ashokgehlot51 and @mkstalin for showing solidarity to people of Bengal and reaffirming their commitment to federalism.Thank you," Mamata Banerjee tweeted.
Centre is brazenly interfering with State Govt functioning by transferring police officers. My gratitude to @bhupeshbaghel @ArvindKejriwal @capt_amarinder @ashokgehlot51 & @mkstalin for showing solidarity to people of Bengal & reaffirming their commitment to federalism.Thank you!
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) December 20, 2020
All these leaders have raised their voices on Twitter, in solidarity with Mamata Banerjee, against the Centre's order to transfer the three IPS officers.
On Dec 10, BJP chief J.P. Nadda's convoy was attacked allegedly by the workers of ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) at Sirakol area under Usthi Police Station limits in South 24 Parganas district when he was going to join a party meeting in Diamond Harbour.
Following the incident, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), despite the state government's objection, attached three IPS officials- DIG Presidency Range Praveen Kumar Tripathi, IG South Bengal Rajeev Mishra and Diamond Harbour Police District's SP Bhola Nath Pandey- and transferred them to the new positions under the Central deputation.
The MHA had made the move under the IPS Cadre Rule 6 (1), reports said.
Meanwhile, the Bengal government has not released these three IPS officers so far and they are planning to move to the Supreme Court against the Centre's decision, according to sources.
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