Congress accuses Modi of vendetta politics over Trinamool MP's arrest

The Congress on Tuesday condemned the arrest of Trinamool Congress MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay by the CBI and accused the Narendra Modi government of pursuing vendetta politics.

Bandyopadhyay, who is the leader of the Trinamool in the Lok Sabha, was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation in Kolkata for his alleged involvement in the multi-crore Rose Valley Group chit fund scam.

He is the second Trinamool MP to be arrested within a week in the alleged scam. The agency arrested Lok Sabha member Tapas Paul on December 30.

Joining voices with Trinamool supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the Modi government has been unleashing central agencies on the opposition, which has been opposing the Centre's November 8 decision of demonetising Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes.

"Everyday we see central agencies like the CBI, Enforcement Directorate (ED) being pushed and pressurised by none less than the Prime Minister and his office to unleash vendetta against political opponents who are raising their voice," said Surjewala.

"Arrest of Bandyopadhyay is nothing but to unleash vendetta and suppress the voice of opposition," he said.

"From the day Mamata Banerjee held a joint press conference with (Congress Vice President) Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders, a new wave of vendetta has been unleashed by Modi," said Surjewala.

The Congress leader was referring to the December 27 presser by several opposition parties where Banerjee had demanded Modi own up responsibility for demonetisation and quit as Prime Minister.

Surjewala also questioned why union minister Babul Supriyo who has been accused of being involved in the alleged Rose Valley scam was not arrested or grilled by the CBI.

"Only the other day, when Tapas Paul was arrested, he had named minister Babul Supriyo for his role in the scam. Did Modi arrest Supriyo? Did CBI even call him for questioning," asked Surjewala.

Supriyo has rubbished Paul's allegations and has threatened to file a defamation case against him.

Furious over Bandyopadhyay's arrest, Banerjee said there was an "Emergency" in the country and announced nationwide protests against the Modi government's "vindictive attitude". She also demanded the arrest of Modi and BJP President Amit Shah.

--IANS

and/ahm/bg