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Trinamool Congress' All India General Secretary, Abhishek Banerjee, made sensational allegations against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the central agencies during a meeting of students and youth of Trinamool at Shahid Minar. Banerjee claimed that the BJP has been trying to implicate him in the Saradha episode with the help of central agencies.
Banerjee, who is also a Member of Parliament, alleged that he was pressured to reveal his name while he was in Saradha Jail, and that the central agencies have already interrogated him several times in connection with the Coal smuggling case.
Banerjee also took a jibe at the opposition leader, Shubhendu Adhikari, without mentioning his name. He said, "It has been three years since I came out of my mouth, what jealousy, what fear!" Banerjee claimed that there is a conspiracy against him and the Trinamool Congress.
During the meeting, Banerjee referred to the Saradha episode, in which Trinamool Congress MLA Madan Mitra and the party's general secretary, Kunal Ghosh, were jailed for a long time. Banerjee pointed towards Mitra and Ghosh and said, "Here are Madan's friends, Kunal Ghosh, sitting on the stage." He then asked them what they had to say about his allegations.
Banerjee also reiterated Trinamool Congress' tough stance on corruption and reminded the audience of the party's decision to suspend leaders like Parth Chattopadhyay. He said, "Trinamool is the only party which has taken action against corrupt leaders. Can any other party from India claim the same?"
Banerjee went on to challenge the central agencies, saying, "ED, CBI will have to be put after me. Narda, Saradha, Garu, Pachar, Coal smuggling, if my name is proved anywhere, then I will die myself by coming to this martyr's tower."
Banerjee's allegations have sparked a fresh round of political controversy in West Bengal ahead of the assembly elections.