Kolkata: Senior Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee, who was questioned by Enforcement Directorate in the alleged coal pilferage scam for seven hours on Friday, dared Union Home Minister Amit Shah to put him behind bars if he committed any wrong. Banerjee said he won't cow down to threats and summonses of the central agencies and vowed to strengthen further movements against the saffron camp soon.
"If needed, I am ready to face questioning 30 times, but will not bow my head before the BJP. I have attacked his (Amit Shah's) son over the national flag issue but that does not mean the ED and CBI can be used to threaten me. Video footage of BCCI secretary Jay Shah, son of the Union home minister, appearing to turn down an offer to wave the national flag after India beat Pakistan in an Asia Cup match in Dubai on August 28 has sparked a controversy.
"All these are Home Ministry scams. Attempts are being made to intimidate the political opposition unable to confront them. The main job of the Home Minister is to trade MLAs like horses. Why is there no CBI or ED investigation in BJP-ruled states? Why to target all opposition groups," Abhishek said. Trinamool Congress All India General Secretary also called Union Home Minister Pappu. "India's biggest Pappu is Amit Shah. Unopposed, he wants to score in an empty field," Abhishek said.
I dare him to prove I have committed a wrong and put me behind bars," he said. The TMC national general secretary alleged that the country's Home Minister has only one job indulging in horse trading of MLAs to topple elected state governments of opposition parties.
On the ED interrogation, he clarified that even after asking so much, the net result is zero. Abhishek said this while leaving the CGO complex. "I have no grudge against the ED officials. They are acting on the words of BJP leaders to save their jobs. This is how the BJP has destroyed the opposition in all other states of the country. But Trinamool is made of a different metal," he said.
Abhishek also attacked Nisith Pramanik in connection with the cattle smuggling case. "Cattle smuggling scam is being investigated. Nisith Pramanik was with our party. He was being investigated by the CBI. He was accused of stealing cows. We kicked him out of the party. He was taken back by the BJP. Now, the Union Home Minister has made him the Minister of State. Think about it, cow thieves are being investigated by cow thieves." he retorted.
Abhishek did not spare the Minister of State for Union Home Ministry, Ajay Mishra either. "Ajay Mishra has been made the Minister of State. His son is accused of murdering a farmer. The Union Home Minister is walking around with him by his side. And they are the ones who talk about ethics. They talk about ideals too," he said.
