CPI-M ridicules Mamata volte face on CBI

The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Saturday ridiculed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for opposing CBI probe into the Saradha chit fund scam, noting she had been most vocal in demanding investigation by the agency on sundry issues during the Left Front rule.

"Since the beginning of her political career till she became the chief minister, Banerjee used to demand CBI probe at the drop of a hat. She is now equally vocal in opposing any CBI inquiry in the chit fund case. Now her party is using terms like 'colonialism' to oppose a CBI probe.

"Banerjee does not want a CBI probe as she wants to brush under the carpet the scam related matters and the involvement of her party leaders in it," said CPI-M central committee member Mohammed Salim.

He alleged that Banerjee had earlier used the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to further her political interests.

Addressing a rally in Burdwan town Friday, Banerjee had accused the United Progressive Alliance government of using central agencies to launch a number of probes against her government and party.

Targeting the CBI, she said the federal investigative body has failed to give justice to the victims of atrocities in Nandigram of East Midnapore district and Netai of West Midnapore.

At Nandigram, the CBI is probing the police firing March 14, 2007, on villagers protesting against the alleged bid to take land forcibly from them for a chemical hub during the tenure of the Left Front government.

In Netai village, several people were killed Jan 7, 2011, in violence allegedly perpetrated by miscreants backed by the CPI-M.