The Trinamool Congress MP, considered number 2 in the party, also advised Shah to teach nationalism to his son and ensure improvement in the law and order situation in Delhi.
“If need be, I am ready to face questioning 30 times, but will not bow my head before the BJP,” he said. I have attacked his (Amit Shah’s) son on the issue of national flag, but that does not mean that ED and CBI can be used. Threaten me,” he told reporters.
Earlier, the Delhi High Court had refused interim relief to Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Abhishek Banerjee and his wife Rujira Banerjee. The court sought response from the ED on the petition.
In response to the petition, the agency said that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader’s petition Abhishek Banerjee and his wife, seeking quashing of Enforcement Directorate (ED) summons in a money laundering case related to an alleged coal scam, was premature and not maintainable.
The 33-year-old MP represents the Diamond Harbor seat in the Lok Sabha and is the national general secretary of the Trinamool Congress (TMC).
Video footage of the BCCI secretary, the son of the Union Home Minister, turning down an offer to wave the national flag after India defeated Pakistan in an Asia Cup match in Dubai on August 28, has sparked controversy.
Banerjee wondered why “the top BJP leaders who taught patriotism to the entire country have failed to educate their son”.
The TMC leader said, “I dared to prove to him (Amit Shah) that I had done wrong and put me behind bars. If they can prove even one charge, then I am ready to be hanged.”
Enforcement Directorate (ED) Banerjee was on Friday issued fresh summons to appear before her officers in connection with the ongoing probe into the coal theft scam.
He reached the agency’s office at CGO Complex in Salt Lake near Kolkata around 11 am and came out around 6 pm.
Investigators claimed that the MP, who is the nephew of state Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, did not cooperate in the investigation. However, he insisted that he did.
An ED official said, “He was asked certain specific questions about money laundering in the coal scam and he kept quiet during the entire interrogation session.”
Speaking to reporters after questioning, Banerjee said that she would not succumb to threats and summons from central agencies, and vowed to strengthen further movements against the saffron camp soon.
“I don’t know how to compromise my integrity. If they (BJP) think they can use ED and CBI to scare me because I attacked their (Amit Shah’s) son, then they should know. I should criticize them more.
Banerjee said the Union Home Minister cannot escape the responsibility of coal theft and cattle smuggling as the CISF and BSF are tasked with protecting coal mines and the Indo-Bangladesh border respectively under her ministry.
He claimed that Shah had only one job – “indulging in horse-trading of MLAs to topple the elected state governments of the opposition parties”.
The TMC leader said that Shah should ensure that the law and order situation improves in Delhi, which is under the Home Ministry.
The national general secretary of TMC claimed that the BJP wants opposition-free West Bengal and India.
“They want to score on the empty ground without protest. The Congress and the CPI(M) have already been reduced to zero, and the only obstacle for the BJP is the TMC. So, they are continuously targeting us.”
Referring to West Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar’s comments that he may be arrested after questioning, Banerjee said, “His statements show that it is the BJP which is deciding who will be interrogated or further There will be a raid.”
He said Majumdar and Leader of Opposition in the state assembly Suvendu Adhikari have named who will be targeted by the ED and the CBI.
The BJP termed Banerjee’s allegation as baseless and claimed that she was trying to play the victim card.
“If someone hasn’t done anything wrong, why is he afraid to face the ED and CBI? If they are innocent, they will come clean. If someone has done wrong, the law will take its course. BJP is not impressed. probe,” BJP spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said.
The ED has already questioned the TMC MP in the coal theft case at the agency’s office in the national capital.
The CBI has also questioned his wife Rujira Narula Banerjee, her sister and her brother-in-law.
It is alleged that illegal mining of coal was done in the leasehold mines of Eastern Coalfields in Kunustoria and Kajora areas near Asansol in West Bengal. Investigations point to financial transactions 1,300 crores, most of which according to the CBI went to several influential people.
With inputs from agencies.
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