Saradha scam: Naidu says Mitra arrested for sharing money

Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu on Monday said West Bengal Transport Minister Madan Mitra was arrested by the CBI not for sharing dais with someone but for sharing money related to the Saradha chit-fund scam.

He added that the Government of India had nothing to do with the arrest.

"Madan Mitra, the Transport Minister, is arrested not because of his sharing dais with Sudipto Sen or whatever, it is because not sharing the dais but sharing the money. That is the issue, they should understand that. And bringing here photographs of people who had an opportunity to meet the Prime Minister and then making it a news, these are all cheap tactics," said Naidu.

"The Transport Minister is arrested not by the Government of India but by the CBI because of the information available with them. The Government of India has nothing to do with this inquiry and there is no question of any conspiracy involved in this. It is an inquiry ordered earlier and then requested by two state governments also, it was done during the UPA regime and this government has nothing to do," he added.

He also appealed to the opposition parties to cooperate in the proper functioning of the Parliament.

"I request the opposition parties to allow the house to function. There are other important issues to be discussed, don't curtail the opportunities of other MPs of the Parliament who want to raise other important issues," Naidu said.

"The entire country is watching us, how the Parliament, Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha are functioning, what are the stands of different parties. Whatever you want to debate, debate it, discuss it, you want to criticize we have no problem, you want to talk out or walk out do it but let us not have any break out," he added.

According to reports, the TMC MPs today draped themselves in black shawls and staged a protest outside the Parliament against Mitra's arrest. They also reportedly, accused the Centre of misusing the CBI in the matter. Similar protests were reportedly witnessed inside both the Houses.

Mitra has been remanded to CBI custody till December 16.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had last week termed Mitra's arrest 'illegal and unconstitutional'.

Earlier last Month, TMC MP Srinjoy Bose had been arrested by the CBI in connection with the scam.