As reported on live TV on Republic, Congress President Rahul Gandhi today evaded commenting on the political drama unfolding at Kolkata as West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee took to dharna protesting against CBI probe in Saradha Chit Fund Scam. “I tweeted what I had to say,” Rahul Gandhi said.
I spoke with Mamata Di tonight and told her we stand shoulder to shoulder with her.
The happenings in Bengal are a part of the unrelenting attack on India’s institutions by Mr Modi & the BJP.
The entire opposition will stand together & defeat these fascist forces.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) February 3, 2019
Rahul Gandhi had said that Congress stands ‘shoulder to shoulder’ with Mamata Banerjee, who was busy stopping the CBI from carrying out their duty of investigating the Saradha Chit Fund Scam. A CBI team had reached Kolkata Police chief’s residence as part of the investigation. However, Kolkata Police detained five CBI officials and Mamata then sat on a dharna protesting against CBI. Earlier today, the CBI moved the Supreme Court seeking directions to Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar to cooperate in the Saradha Chit Fund case. In its petition, the CBI has said that despite being summoned multiple times, Kumar failed to cooperate and created hurdles in the investigation.
Congress extending support to Mamata Banerjee is curious considering till few months back, Congress President Rahul Gandhi as well as UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi had not been too kind to her, accusing Mamata Banerjee of ‘looting Bengal’ in Saradha scam. Interestingly, earlier in January, Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram’s wife, Nalini Chidambaram was charge-sheeted in the Saradha chit fund scam. According to the charges filed by CBI, Nalini Chidambaram had received ₹1.4 crore from Sudipta Sen, the prime accused in the case. CBI says that Nalini Chidambaram conspired with Sudipta Sen with an intention of cheating and misappropriation of funds. She took the amount of ₹1.4 crore between 2010 to 2014, according to the chargesheet.
