Chit fund scam: Buddhadeb doubts Trinamool wants truth to emerge

Kolkata, April 28 (IANS) Expressing doubt whether West Bengal's Trinamool Congress government intended to dig out the truth in the chit fund scam, CPI-M leader Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee Sunday said the facts could be unsettling for the ruling party which had become synonymous with the tainted Saradha Group.

"We are suspicious about the government's intentions. Does it want the truth to come out? If everything comes out, what will happen to the government, Trinamool?" Bhattacharjee, the former chief minister, said at a party rally in Panihati of neighbouring North 24 Parganas district here.

Accusing the Trinamool of having taken the help of such companies in campaigning against the Left Front ahead of the 2011 assembly polls, he said: "Before the election we saw the chit fund companies jumping to campaign for the Trinamool. They carried out a propaganda that the LF would have to be ousted."

He alleged that the campaign was aimed at installing a Trinamool government so that such companies could share the spoils alongside the present rulers.

"The party (Trinamool) and the company have become synonymous but when we were in power, we never allowed any chit fund company to cosy up to us. No one can bring such allegations.

"Can you say the same against this government?" he asked, obliquely questioning the honesty of the present dispensation.

"People have their eyes and ears open on the issue of honesty. They very things. I leave this to your good judgement."

Bhattacharjee, a Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) politburo member, said there was no need for the Mamata Banerjee government to bring a new law to bring to justice those duping the people by collecting money from them, saying the law enacted by his government was enough.

The government has convened a two-day special session for introducing the proposed legislation.

"Once the bill is passed, it will go to the central government. You never know how much time will be spent before the bill is approved.

"The government has also formed a commission to probe the chit fund scam. After they give their recommendations, police will act. What will happen to the depositors now? Will police sit silently and make no more arrests?" Bhattacharjee said.

He said the government's priority should be to save the depositors from ruin.

"But who will save them now? Howe will they be saved? How will they be saved?" he asked.