Following the ED’s raid on the office of Trinamool Congress’s political consultant I-PAC, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday warned that if she and her government were pressured beyond a certain point, they would release details of what she claimed was Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s involvement in the coal scam.
“I have pen drives. I have kept quiet out of respect for the chair I hold. Don’t pressure me too much. I will reveal everything. The whole country will be shocked,” Mamata said, addressing a large crowd protesting the ED raids in Kolkata.
The raids on Thursday at I-PAC’s office and at the office of its chief, Pratik Jain, are connected to an illegal coal mining case being probed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Tensions escalated when Mamata Banerjee, accompanied by police and her aides, entered the probe sites and walked out carrying files and pen drives, alleging that the files contained sensitive poll strategies.
Responding to criticism over her interference in the ED’s probe, she said she did not commit any wrongdoing by confronting the Enforcement Directorate during its operations.
Mamata alleged that all proceeds from the coal scam ultimately went to Union Home Minister Amit Shah. She further claimed that the funds were routed through BJP MP from Bengal Jagannath Sarkar – whom she called a “dacoit” – and Leader of Opposition in the Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari – whom she called a “gaddar” and Shah’s “new godson.” She added that she had kept silent out of respect for the chair she holds.
However, she warned that if undue pressure is applied by central agencies, she is prepared to bare it all and said she has pen drives to back her claims.
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